10 SEPTEMBER 2025
Valesco WINS SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD AT 2025 GRI EUROPE AWARDS
Shiraz Jiwa founded The Valesco Group in 2018 and has built one of the fastest growing real estate fund management platforms, having amassed a pan-European office portfolio greater than €2.5 billion.
Shiraz’s vision for the company has always been far beyond financial returns – for him and his team, impact comes first, and real estate excellence is the engine with which they can achieve impact. Since inception, he has committed a percentage of the company’s profits towards The Valesco Foundation, which he chairs and is registered with the UK Charity Commission.
The Foundation’s objectives are (1) the advancement of education; (2) the prevention or relief of poverty; (3) the promotion of equality and diversity; and (4) the advancement of health and the saving of lives. Since launch, it has supported 20+ charities including the following initiatives over 2024/25:
Hand on Heart, who aid London’s rough sleepers. Valesco have supported them since 2023, enabling them to purchase their first van which travelled 30,000+ miles in its first year distributing 8,400 support packs across 30 locations. The Valesco team regularly attend these distributions to volunteer services and hand out packs to rough sleepers.
Patchwork Foundation, which works to integrate underrepresented, disadvantaged communities into British politics and strengthen democracy through greater social mobility. Valesco has provided grants to the charity for four years, regularly attending their Masterclass sessions with the students. Shiraz is Chair of the Advisory Council, has given the keynote speech at induction, and the Valesco team also participate in the mentorship programme each year.
The 93% Club, whose mission is to upskill state-school educated youth and break down structural barriers to social mobility. Valesco was the first corporate donor to the charity, giving it credibility to attract further funding. The grant enabled the charity to hire a Head of Community, who in 2024 delivered 520 events at universities, engaging 17,000 students. The Head of Community has also built their alumni network which now generates a 5-figure monthly sum channelled directly back into the charity.
UN Women UK, who exist to ensure all women & girls have access to safety, choice and a voice. Valesco’s grant has funded the Safe Spaces Now program aimed at creating safer public spaces through workplace training and public campaigns.
Valesco employees also regularly volunteer with the Foundation’s grantees or charitable initiatives close to their own hearts, as well as fundraising on behalf of the Foundation. In the last year, four Valesco employees have run the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise money for Carers Network, who were one of the first grantees of The Valesco Foundation and work to support 7,000+ unpaid carers – Valesco match-funded the money raised, which has been allocated towards a new hire responsible for supporting their volunteers. They have also hosted a pizza sale at their office to raise funds for LUPUS UK - Valesco match-funded the money raised to support individuals living with lupus in the UK.
Shiraz’s work with The Valesco Foundation has seen him invited to philanthropic events at 10 & 11 Downing Street, the House of Commons, Westminster City Council and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He was also invited to deliver the keynote speech at the opening of an innovative entrepreneurial incubator to inspire young British citizens in the presence of the Deputy Lord Mayor of London.
You can read more about The Valesco Foundation’s impact here: https://valescofoundation.org/
You can also read more about the 2025 GRI Europe Awards here: https://news.griinstitute.org/en/real-estate/meet-the-winners-of-the-gri-awards-real-estate-europe-2025?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=awareu25-winners&utm_id=awareu25-winners