With the 2025 WhatHouse? Awards just a couple of months away, Rory Wilkinson, digital editor of Show House, sat down with Wayne Bennett, national partnerships director of Awards sponsor, Heylo, to find out more about the company and what drew them to get involved with the event.
Tell us a little about Heylo and your role at the company?
I am the national partnerships director at Heylo, where my role is to build and strengthen relationships with our housebuilding partners, ensuring we work collaboratively to bring high-quality Shared Ownership homes to market through our Home Reach programme. Since Home Reach started in 2017, we’ve delivered more than 10,000 affordable homes, working with over 180 housebuilders and local authorities nationwide.
A key part of my role is bridging the gap between investment and the needs of housebuilders. By aligning funding with developers’ ambitions, I help turn this investment into practical solutions that make schemes both financially viable and deliverable.
My focus is on supporting these partners to integrate Shared Ownership into their developments seamlessly, helping them reach a wider range of buyers and deliver mixed-tenure communities that are both sustainable and inclusive. Home Reach is about making homeownership accessible to households who might otherwise be excluded, by enabling them to purchase a share of their home with just a 5% deposit on that share. For housebuilders, it unlocks demand and accelerates sales, while for customers it provides a vital and affordable route onto the ladder.
What role does Heylo play in the housebuilding industry?
Heylo plays a pivotal role in supporting the UK’s housebuilding sector by working hand-in-hand with developers to increase access to affordable homes. Through Home Reach, we enable buyers to purchase a share of a new build home while paying rent on the remainder, making homes more affordable with just a 5% deposit of their share. This makes homeownership a reality for households who might otherwise be locked out of the market due to high deposit or income requirements.
For housebuilders, Home Reach widens the pool of eligible purchasers and accelerates sales by marketing properties at a share price rather than full market value, all without compromising on margins. This approach has proved hugely effective in ensuring developments appeal to a broader audience while still maintaining quality and value.
We’ve delivered thousands of homes and supported mixed-tenure developments that benefit both communities and the industry.
What was it that attracted you to sponsoring the WhatHouse? Awards?
The WhatHouse? Awards are widely recognised as a flagship celebration of the very best in British housebuilding. Like us, the awards champion innovation, best practice and collaboration in the sector. Our work with housebuilders is all about creating opportunities – for developers to diversify their offering and for buyers to step onto the ladder. Sponsoring the Awards allows us to connect with like-minded organisations, celebrate the achievements of our partners and highlight the role of Shared Ownership in shaping the future housing market.
We were particularly drawn to the Awards’ emphasis on excellence and creativity, values that align with our mission of delivering accessible, high-quality homes. Sponsorship also enables us to continue raising awareness of our Home Reach brand, ensuring more people understand the flexible routes into homeownership we provide.
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How important are the WhatHouse? Awards to the housebuilding industry?
The WhatHouse? Awards are one of the most important events in the UK housebuilding calendar, setting a benchmark for excellence across the industry. They bring together developers, housing associations, investors and suppliers to celebrate innovation and best practice – qualities that are essential for addressing today’s housing challenges.
For Heylo, the Awards highlight the vital role collaboration plays in delivering affordable and diverse housing solutions. They shine a spotlight on the breadth of talent and dedication within the industry, from large-scale regeneration schemes to creative affordable housing models. Crucially, the Awards also provide public recognition for the individuals and organisations driving change, which not only boosts reputations but inspires continued progress. In a market where trust and confidence matter, the WhatHouse? Awards offer a powerful opportunity to demonstrate that the industry is committed to raising standards and providing homes that truly meet people’s needs.
What is your favourite part of attending the WhatHouse? Awards?
For me, the highlight of attending the WhatHouse? Awards is the sense of celebration and community it fosters. It’s an inspiring occasion where the entire industry comes together – from major national housebuilders to smaller regional teams – all united by a shared commitment to excellence in housing. I particularly enjoy the chance to connect with our housebuilding partners in such a positive setting, celebrating the impact of our joint efforts to deliver homes for a wider range of buyers. It’s also an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the latest innovations and approaches being recognised across the sector. The energy in the room is always uplifting, and you leave with a real sense of pride in being part of an industry that is not only building homes but also creating opportunities and communities for people across the country.
What does the future hold for Heylo and how does sponsoring the awards support that?
Looking ahead, Heylo is committed to significantly expanding our affordable housing offer. Since 2014 we’ve delivered more than 10,000 homes, and by 2028 we aim to double this figure, supported by over £500million already in our pipeline. Our focus is on growing our Home Reach brand to provide flexible routes into homeownership through Shared Ownership. The WhatHouse? Awards supports this vision by amplifying our voice within the sector, enabling us to showcase the benefits of partnership with Heylo and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted collaborator. By raising awareness of the alternative paths we provide, sponsorship directly supports our goal of helping more households – from first-time buyers to downsizers – onto the property ladder.
