Kent-based agent ARUN Estates has won the gold award for Best Estate Agency Training and Development at the UK's first national award scheme for estate agents.

The country's best estate agencies were announced in a glamourous awards ceremony hosted by BBC news presenter Fiona Bruce at the Brewery, London.

Attended by over 400 delegates from across Britain, the Estate Agency of the Year Awards are set to become a major event in the estate agency calendar.

The judging panel comprised property journalists, highly respected retired estate agents and senior directors of house-building and mortgage-lending firms.

The awards have been set up to champion high standards, innovation and the best practice among estate agents of all sizes and prove some agencies are working beyond the call of duty.

Organised by Estate Agency Events, the new initiative aims to help improve perception in the minds of the British consumer in terms of the service and efforts generated on their behalf by UK estate agents.

The ceremony was part of a day-long event entitled (R)evolutionary Estate Agency, which involved a series of presentations by leading lights in the property and estate agency market in the morning, followed by the awards.

The awards were designed to bring the UK's leading agencies together in the name of driving market change.

Divided into 14 categories, the awards span the breadth of the role of the estate agent, from customer service, marketing and training through to the coveted Estate Agency of the Year accolade which is awarded for overall performance and demonstration of best practice.

Local agent Robinson, Griffiths & Jackson (RGB) was in attendance and really enjoyed the event. RGB said: "It was packed with many ideas which make you think."