A KEIGHLEY entrepreneur is spearheading the first national awards programme of its kind.

Sam Cooke, 24, is launching the Blue Bricks Property Awards – to recognise the efforts of ethical property investors.

He is editor of Blue Bricks Magazine, which will host the awards ceremony at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, on June 19.

Accolades will be handed out across several categories.

They will include the Community Contributor Award, for those having a positive impact on their communities; the Sustainable Deal of The Year Award; the Social Housing Investor Award; the Property Paragon Award, in recognition of those helping and inspiring others to invest ethically, and the Co-Living Award, to honour those creating attractive co-living spaces.

Sam hopes the initiative will help change a negative perception of landlords.

"This is the first property awards ceremony to focus on ethics and ethical investment," he says.

"It's no secret that landlords often get a bad reputation. I want to change this negative stereotype by putting a spotlight on the best of the industry and showing there are a lot of people operating within property who are doing good. I've seen the good and the bad, and I've recognised that there are some amazing people in property making a real difference in their communities.

"Also, my hope is that the awards will serve as a tool to inspire other people within the industry to do more to help those around them.

"We have partnered with a homeless charity, Change Ahead, to promote its amazing work at the same time.

"And entertainment at the awards evening will include magician Richard Jones, winner of 2016's Britain's Got Talent TV show."

Sam, who has lived in Keighley all his life, began working as an estate agent in the area when he was 21.

He joined Blue Bricks Magazine in 2021 as its marketing manager, and bought the business the following year.

Sam says: "The magazine – which is for landlords, property investors and developers – believes in arming its readers with the right knowledge, information and inspiration to increase revenue whilst providing better places to live.

"We put a strong emphasis on doing things the right way by targeting professionals who value ethics and want to create homes that are both beautiful and affordable, whilst caring for tenant wellbeing.

"We've become an industry-recognised publication. I've been asked to judge for the Property Investor Awards and the magazine has been nominated as 'best content provider' in the HMO Awards."

For more about the Blue Bricks Property Awards, visit bluebricksmagazine.com/bluebricks-awards-2024