The leading companies and individuals in bridging, commercial, development and specialist banking have been shortlisted by our external judges and are now in the running to win the industry’s most prestigious awards.

Online voting opened for the 24 award categories in February and was extended for longer than usual after B&C revealed that the event was to be postponed to 6th October 2021.

Almost 2,500 votes were cast by 31st May, in support of who the industry believes is deserving of the famed B&C gold gongs at this year’s highly anticipated celebration.

Once the votes were tallied into a longlist of up to 15 firms per category, the B&C judging panels — comprising key lenders and brokers — made their selections for which firms and individuals they’d like to see on the shortlist.

There was fierce competition for the Underwriter of the Year award, with nine individuals making the shortlist, compared with six in 2020.

For this year’s event, B&C has introduced two new categories, Best Technology Provider and Best Specialist Recruitment Partner, following the increased requirement for tech and talent over the past 12 months.

Nivo, Twenty7Tec, Aprao, Ncino and Dock9 have been shortlisted for the technology title, while Fintellect, Boxtree Recruitment, Valorem Partners, KFS Recruitment, and City & Capital feature in the recruitment category.

Bridging Funding Partner of the Year saw JP Morgan and Pamplona appear for the first time, alongside mainstays Toorak Capital Partners and Shawbrook Bank.

Albatross Capital, MS Lending Group, Fairbridge Capital, Impact Lending and Lendwell have also all been nominated for the first time under Best Bridging Lender Newcomer. Reim Capital has made the shortlist for the second year running.

There are new additions to the Best Commercial Broker category: Ice Cubed Property Finance, Pilot Fish, Wharf Financial, Synergy Commercial Finance, Ramsay & White Finance for Property Investors, and UK Property Finance, joining Watts Commercial Finance, Peritus Corporate Finance, which made the cut in 2020.

The judging panels will meet virtually on 15th July to decide who will be crowned winners of the B&C Awards 2021, with brokers judging the lender categories and lenders determining the victors in the broker categories.

Medianett will decide on the Outstanding Contribution and the Editor’s Choice awards.

The names of the winners will be kept a closely guarded secret until the sold-out event on 6th October at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham.