Two of our team have received three nominations between them for this year’s SCEPTRE awards, which recognise the best practice and the best people in the shopping centre industry.

Samantha Robinson, Assistant Centre Manager at Ladysmith Shopping Centre, received nominations in two categories - Manager of the Year (Small Centre) and Young Achiever of the Year – for the incredible impact she has made over her two years at the Ashton-under-Lyne site.

Sam’s engaging and hands-on approach has led to some amazing results for the site, including a service charge reduction of -7.2%, an increase in retailers attending meetings and creating a great working relationship with the local community, including playing an important role as the Ashton Town Team secretary.

Sam has also been key in re-invigorating the scheme’s events schedule, successfully launching the Amazing Ashton Awards, holding the centre’s first ever Halloween zombie experience and making sure that fundraising is top of the agenda throughout events.

Our third nomination goes to Lee Ellis, who has made the shortlist for the Operations Manager of the Year award for his work at Middleton Shopping Centre, Manchester.

Since Lee joined in March 2019, he has used his retail and security experience to implement a clear and focussed commercial strategy. Lee is held in high regard for his energy, dynamism and results focus and he has helped to reposition the centre team as a valuable support function for stores within the scheme, a position that has been more valuable than ever over the last few months.

Lee has also overseen a reduction in service charge budget of -3%, all while ensuring that occupier and customer satisfaction is top priority at all times, with a member of the management team now completing a customer walk of the centre every morning to ensure everything from temperature to lighting to music volume is shopper appropriate.

Lee and the Middleton team have fully embraced the mantle of a community shopping centre, with charity partnerships key to the centre’s work in the local area. Schemes such as the ’Win a Shop for a Year’ competition have given a huge boost to the centre’s profile and cemented their position as a site that is working hard for the benefit of the local community.

This year's award winners are due to be announced during an online ceremony on Thursday 26th November - huge congratulations to both Lee and Sam on making the shortlist.