Industry organisation Women in Property would like to encourage more women into the sector, citing a healthy pipeline of new talent, flexible working environment and inspirational female role models as critical to this challenge. A University of Brighton student is one of four winning students who will represent the South East region at the national final of the Women in Property South East Student Awards.
Speaking at an event to celebrate the awards, legal director Michelle Kershaw said: “This country urgently needs to ensure it has a really strong property and construction industry so ‘future-proofing’ our talent pool is critical.”
Women in Property has a few initiatives that encourage girls to explore the rewarding and diverse range of careers available in this sector. “For example, the Student Awards, now in their 12th year, inspire students, to engage with universities and employers. Through challenging themselves, these young women will explore their own abilities, meet others – women and men – who are already working in the industry, and gain valuable work placement experience, so they will really understand what opportunities are out there for them,” explained Michelle.
The University of Brighton student, Shannon Cresswell, is studying project management for construction. “Being part of the Women in Property Awards has boosted my confidence, making me want to change people’s perception of construction and help other women like myself to achieve anything they set their mind to. Being nominated by my university was an amazing achievement in itself, as it shows that all my hard work has been recognised,” she said.
As part of the Awards, there are 14 regional finalists representing their universities and regions from across the UK. They will go forward to the national final on September, the 18th, when they go before a further judging panel. The national winner will be announced at the Best of Best Awards Dinner to be held at Claridge’s.
