A life of colour…

We don’t need an excuse to celebrate women in property, and not only is this Sunday International Women’s Day, but we are dedicating this feature to females shaping the future and championing change. But first, let’s address the obvious: there is a prevalent gender gap within the industry.

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According to PWC’s 2019 report ‘Fast-tracking gender balance across real estate’, the percentage of women in middle-management positions has decreased by 1% since 2017 and decreased by 2% in senior leadership positions. The median gender pay gap in real estate is 30%, more than double the 14% for all UK companies. 

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“Talent continues to be lost from the industry because many families don’t believe it is possible to have two successful careers and children.”

ROBYN PRINCE, DIRECTOR CONSULTANCY, BOYER PLANNING

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New data, carried out by global real estate recruitment firm deverellsmith, states that more men than women in real estate were offered a pay rise in the last 12 months.

A poll of 300 employees found 49.25% of men were offered a pay rise in the last 12 months, compared to 41.54% of women.

The study reflects sorrowing reports of the continued gender pay gap. In the year to April 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported women were paid 8.9% less than men the previous year, a rise of 0.3% from 2018.

In 2012, the gap between female average earnings compared to men was 9.5%, narrowing only to 8.9% in 2019.

James Campion, Managing Director at deverellsmith, said “the gender pay gap in real estate remains an ongoing issue. While it has slowly improved over the past decade, the sector must do more to encourage and facilitate a more uniform rise and cohesion in both pay and seniority.”

We must not dwell, however, on the negative news that this uncovers. deverellsmith have spoken to 3 trailblazing females in property who shared a more positive and empowering light to what is proving to still be a dark room for the majority of females in our industry

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• Andrea Carpenter, Founder, Women Talk Real Estate

• Rebecca Hills, Social Media Executive, Knight Frank

• Kemi Oguntoye, Associate, SAY Property Consultancy