Yorkshire property firms join initiative to create a diverse workplace

12 established environment firms across Yorkshire and The Humber are among the first in the UK to become signatories of a new industry initiative launched by the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

The initiative, launched this month, aims to help the land, property and construction sector attract and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The ‘Inclusive Employer Quality Mark’ has formed by RICS to encourage companies to be aware of their role in attracting new new people to the industry from under-represented groups

Firms which pledge their support to the initiative are making a commitment to improve across six key areas: Leadership & Vision, Recruitment, Staff Development, Staff Retention, Staff Engagement and Continuous Development.

Yorkshire and Humber firms that have pledged their commitment to the RICS’ Quality Mark are, John Rowan & Partners, Stutt & Parker, Sweett Group, DTZ, Deloitte Real Estate, JLL, Pinset Masons, Gerald Eve, Knight Frank, Savills, EC Harris (part of ARCADIS) and Bilfinger GVA.

Signatories will be provided access to details about how they are performing (according to RICS standards) across all six areas compared with their peers, as well as as a range of support, ideas and case studies from high performers to help drive up improvements for all.

RICS has created two separate criteria metrics too so that both small and large firms are assessed fairly.

Adrian Barlow FRICS, head of property at Pinsent Masons, said: “We are delighted to be one of the first signatories of the RICS’ Inclusive Employer Quality Mark, and to state publicly our commitment to its diversity principles. We believe that better diversity makes for better business and our hope is that this initiative will have a very positive impact on the property sector.”

Colin Wilson, head of UK & Ireland at DTZ, added: “We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive work environment where all of our people feel valued, are provided with the tools to be successful and the opportunities to progress. This is why we are proud to be one of the first firms in the UK to commit to RICS’ Quality Mark initiative. We look forward to seeing more firms become signatories and commit to helping our industry become more inclusive.”

Liz Peace, former CEO of the British Property Federation and founder of Real Estate Balance is also supporting the initiative. She commented: “Everybody is talking about equality and diversity but the industry as a whole lacks focus and is suffering from too many initiatives. The RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark could be just what we need to pull together the many well-intentioned efforts that currently exist, into a coherent code of practice that will help companies understand, and then act to provide, a working environment that really does promote diversity and inclusion across all different groups and interests. I look forward to working with the RICS to promote the Quality Mark to the many and various component parts of the property industry.”

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