WhatHouse? Awards 2020 Winner: Octagon
Entries are well underway for the 2021 WhatHouse? Awards but we thought we’d speak to some of last year’s winners to see what success means to them and to current and future house-hunters.
Here, we talk to Tim Banks, CEO of developer Octagon, who won Gold for Best Luxury House for Hampton Place.
Congratulations on winning a WhatHouse? Award (WHA) – how have house-hunters reacted to that news?
Our clients love to know that their own house, or indeed, that of another Octagon homeowner, has been recognised for such a prestigious award. Last year’s triumph was for Best Luxury House, a category we love to enter, and, without being too boastful, we feel we excel at, so good to get the judges’ endorsement.
What inspired you to enter the Awards?
We like to take part every year if possible, and this particular house was completed at the perfect time for entry, and judged just before it got sold! Winning a WHA is like an early Christmas present for Octagon, and a great opportunity for me to congratulate and celebrate all the teams involved.
Hampton Place
How is the category you won significant for your company and the wider industry?
Winning Best Luxury House (which we have multiple times) is where Octagon began to get tagged ‘pioneer housebuilder for luxury new homes’ – we started entering the awards back in the late eighties, and they certainly helped establish the brand both within the industry and to the public at large.
What are the key qualities and USPs that led to you entering?
Our one-off exterior design created by our own in-house team of architects and designers, superior interior fittings, environmentally friendly materials and systems, attention to detail, and stylish interior decoration and bespoke furnishings.
Did you find it easy to submit an entry?
Yes we did. It always involves a lot of work and planning. Probably the only nerve-wracking thing is choosing the right day for photography – everything looks better in the sunshine.
How does entering the Awards online compare to the pre-pandemic process?
Our PR company handle our entries, and report back it was less time consuming, and easy to tweak and amend right up until deadline!
What effect did lockdown have on preparing an entry for the 2020 Awards?
Octagon were operating throughout lockdown. We communicated with our PR company on a daily basis, which involved safe site visits, so the lockdown didn’t prove to be a major obstacle for us.
Tim Banks, CEO of Octagon
Have you had much feedback from other housebuilders about your win?
We always get a lot of lovely emails and phone calls once the news is out, from our suppliers, consultants, and we take great pleasure in informing the houseowner and presenting them with a replica plaque.
What value has winning added to your business?
The exposure as WHA Gold winner certainly helps spread the word to prospective clients that excel at what we do. Also our suppliers enjoy being involved with ‘winning material’.
It must have been satisfying for everyone at the company – does your achievement help to retain and attract the best people to the team?
There is no better way to tell your team they have done a first-class job than by inviting them to go up on stage with me to accept the award. Without doubt these sort of occasions and achievements help team building and attract talented staff.
Do you have any current developments in mind to enter into the 2021 Awards?
Yes , two rather different categories are attracting our attention this year – watch this space!