Rising star of property industry takes home top accolade

A woman described as “one of the most exciting prospects” in the commercial property sector has picked up the Rising Star trophy in The Midlands PROPS 2024 Awards.

Sophie Froggatt, an agency surveyor at Siddall Jones, beat off stiff competition from three other finalists to pick up the title at the Variety charity’s awards ceremony in Birmingham last week.

Ms Froggatt, who started at Siddall Jones five years ago as office manager, has been working in the role of agency surveyor for the company since July 2023.

Ed Siddall-Jones, managing director of Siddall Jones, said: “We believe Sophie to be one of the most exciting prospects in the sector, and we’re so proud of her for winning this award.

“When she started with us in 2019, she quickly became one of our most proficient workers, an increasingly important cog in the wheel of our operations.

“We decided that Sophie was capable of much more and so promoted her to agency surveyor last July.

“She took to the new job like a duck to water and was soon impressing our existing and new clients with her eye for the right properties and her attention to detail.”

Mr Siddall-Jones added: “Sophie really deserves her Rising Star award and we look forward to watching her career develop with us.”

Sophie triumphed in the Rising Stars award versus finalists Tom Rhodes of Keepmoat, Kaine Arkinson of Shepherd Commercial and Siobhan McGlynn, of Brookbanks.

The 28-year-old who grew up in Walsall, said: “I was genuinely shocked but really pleased to win, as I was up against so many other worthy finalists.

“I’d previously been mainly office based as office manager, but my directors Ed and Ryan Lynch were always telling me that I ought to get out there and work face-to-face with clients.

“They pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’ve really enjoyed the last year, ranked as third in the EG ranking for sales and lettings in my first six months.

“I love meeting new people in different sectors, in everything from the hospitality sector to established lawyers and accountancy firms, plus those starting up in business.

“It’s this wide range of people and businesses that excites me, experiencing different properties for their assorted needs, gathering knowledge about numerous sectors and the history of companies.”

The PROPS brings together major players in the UK real estate sector, recognising individuals and companies who have excelled.

Since 1992, the PROPS have raised more than £11 million for Variety, the Children’s Charity, providing support for countless children with disabilities.