Blog Description Copyright © 2015 The Association of Women in Property Tue, 14 April 2026 08:24:41 Tue, 14 April 2026 08:24:41 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/women-in-property-limited-seeks-non-executive-director-with-legal-hr-expertise/ Women in Property has grown significantly over the last couple of years and there is some inspiring work going on across the Branches and Hubs, as well as some fabulous events.  The structure of the organisation has adapted to suit this growth, moving from an Unincorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee, retaining our not-for-profit status. The Limited Board has also been evolving with this organisational change. Following recent additions, Women in Property is now looking to   expand our Limited Board with the appointment of at least one new Non-Executive Director with specialist legal knowledge of corporate and human resources.      This is an opportunity to help shape and guide Women in Property and have Limited Company Board experience, while developing your own skills and network.  We encourage applications from all genders, to build and strengthen our inclusive board.  Applicants will be expected to have extensive senior management experience, The roles are held in a consultative capacity and entail attendance at a minimum of four Board meetings per year with supporting Board communication in the interim. Each Director role is voluntary, with paid expenses for a four-year term. Role spec can be viewed   here.  If this appeals to you   please email   directors@womeninproperty.org.uk , attaching: Your CV (max two sides of A4)   A supporting statement (max two sides of A4). This is your opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the role and should clearly convey your motivation and provide concise examples of your relevant skills and experience.  Shortlisted applications will be invited to interview.  Please note the   closing date of midday on Friday 29th May .  Shortlisted applicants will be invited to   interview in mid-June . https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/women-in-property-limited-seeks-non-executive-director-with-legal-hr-expertise/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/women-in-property-limited-seeks-non-executive-director-with-legal-hr-expertise/ Tue, 14 April 2026 08:24:41 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/meet-women-in-propertys-branch-chairs-2026/ On 1st March we welcomed our new Branch Chairs, who will lead their committees over the next twelve months.   Thank you all! Being on a committee gives you great experience of strategic planning, budgeting, people skills, event organising and coordinating...all important management skills.  Interested in getting involved?   Contact your branch chair to hear more. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/meet-women-in-propertys-branch-chairs-2026/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/meet-women-in-propertys-branch-chairs-2026/ Tue, 03 March 2026 16:54:44 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/welcoming-our-new-national-chair-sam-mccabe/ We are delighted to announce our new National Chair.  Samantha McCabe, of WSP, takes the role from 1st March, until 28th February 2027.  Sam, who is Passive House Lead UK and Sustainable Buildings Lead Scotland for WSP, is a former WiP Central Scotland branch Chair. Sam, an Australian, lives in Edinburgh.  Awarded Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of the Built Environment from Queensland University of Technology, Sam went on to practice Architecture and Sustainability Consulting, now with WSP UK and Ireland. She says, “This industry is amazing in so many ways, but it still has something of a silo mentality when it comes to how we go about implementing design and construction.  I will be talking about this a lot more through my year as National Chair, under my theme ‘Building more with less’.  We have a fantastic multi-disciplinary network, which is a real USP for Women in Property, and a great opportunity to promote a cross-fertilisation of ideas.” David Healy, Head of Building Services, WSP commented: “Sam’s appointment as National Chair of Women in Property reflects her leadership, expertise and commitment to driving positive change across our industry.  We’re proud to see her take on this influential role and look forward to supporting the impact she’ll make over the year ahead.” Supporting Sam will be National Vice Chair, Charlotte Bayliss, who also took on the role on 1st March.  Charlotte is a former Midlands branch Chair, and is Associate Director of Deloitte Legal, in Birmingham where she specialises in advising investors on acquisitions, disposals, re-financing, development schemes, strategic land transactions and property management matters relating to their portfolios. Together Sam, Charlotte and outgoing National Chair, Emma Richman will form the National Team overseeing Women in Property across the UK.  Initiatives underway this year include WiP’s national conference, the People-Innovation-Place Summit in Salford on 23rd April, which is open to non-members, of all genders; partnership panel discussions at UKREiiF in May, and development of a new Future Industries programme, targeting young people, to encourage more industry entrants from diverse backgrounds. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/welcoming-our-new-national-chair-sam-mccabe/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/welcoming-our-new-national-chair-sam-mccabe/ Mon, 02 March 2026 09:39:32 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/building-trust-in-property-a-practical-guide-to-dbs-basic-checks/ Introduction Women in Property exists to create opportunities, expand knowledge and inspire change for women working across property and construction, championing an industry where success is built on merit and expertise rather than gender. One of the ways we can all help build a fair, trusted profession is by getting recruitment and vetting right. For many roles, a DBS Basic check can be a sensible, proportionate tool. A Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a straightforward criminal record check that can support better recruitment decisions in a wide range of roles. This blog from The Disclosure and Barring Service explains what a Basic DBS check is, why they matter in the property sector, who can apply, how the process works, what it costs, and what is disclosed on the certificate. What is a Basic DBS check and when might you use it? A Basic DBS check provides information about an individual’s unspent convictions and conditional cautions, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A DBS check is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions, DBS provides checks for people living or working in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Those in Scotland or Northern Ireland usually apply through Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI. A Basic DBS check is the lowest level of DBS check. It shows details of any unspent convictions and conditional cautions held on the Police National Computer, under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If a person has no unspent convictions or conditional cautions, the Basic DBS certificate will state that there is “no information held”. Why Basic DBS checks matter in property Property and construction are trust heavy environments. Many roles involve access to people’s homes, personal information, money, or lone working. Even when a job is not eligible for a higher-level DBS check, employers and clients still want reassurance that sensible steps have been taken. A DBS Basic check can support that reassurance, especially for roles such as: Lettings and property management staff holding keys, arranging viewings, or entering occupied homes Facilities, concierge, caretaking and security roles in residential blocks and mixed use sites Maintenance and repairs teams attending call outs in lived-in properties Customer facing roles handling sensitive data (tenant details, ID documents, financial information) Supplier and contractor onboarding, where you want a consistent baseline check across a supply chain For women working in property, Basic checks can also support the wider culture we are building: clear standards, safer workplaces, and professionalism that is consistent and fair. Used properly, they help organisations manage risk without creating unnecessary barriers for applicants. Who can get a Basic DBS check? DBS checks are very flexible. anyone aged 16 or over can apply for a Basic DBS check for themselves a Basic check can be used for any role or purpose - there is no legislative eligibility test for this level of check, unlike Standard and Enhanced checks a Basic DBS check can be obtained by people living or looking to live and work in England and Wales – including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands This means employers can build Basic DBS checks into their recruitment process wherever they feel it is appropriate and proportionate. For example, roles that involve handling sensitive information, access to money or stock, visiting customers in their homes or working in positions of trust. How do you apply for a Basic DBS check? There are 2 main routes. Individuals applying for themselves Individuals can apply directly to DBS using the online Basic DBS application route on GOV.UK. To use this service, applicants will typically need: a GOV.UK One Login account (or they can create one as part of the process). address history for the last 5 years, including the dates they lived at each address. identity documents, such as a passport or driving licence, and a National Insurance number if they have one. Once the application is submitted and paid for, DBS processes the check and issues an online certificate. Paper certificates can be sent to any address specified by the applicant, including to a 3rd party. Employers requesting checks for staff Employers can: ask applicants to apply for their own Basic DBS check and then share the result. use a Responsible Organisation – an organisation registered with DBS to submit large numbers of Basic checks on behalf of employers – to apply with the applicant’s consent. Responsible Organisations may charge an additional administration fee for managing the process. How much does a Basic DBS check cost? A Basic DBS check currently costs £21.50 for all applicants, including volunteers. Payment can be made online using a debit or credit card, or digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Applicants can pay during the application or choose to pay later, for example if an employer is covering the cost via the payment link sent by email. Where employers use a Responsible Organisation, that organisation may charge an extra administration fee on top of the DBS fee. How long does a Basic DBS check take? Basic DBS checks are designed to be quick. on average, it takes around 3 days to process a Basic DBS application, although it can sometimes take longer recent DBS data shows that 88% of Basic DBS checks are completed within 48 hours employers are advised to allow up to around 14 days in case additional checks are needed Once the check is complete, applicants who applied online and do not have conviction information can also view their result online and share it using a secure share code. What information appears on a Basic DBS certificate? A Basic DBS certificate will show: details of any unspent convictions details of any unspent conditional cautions These are defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Act sets out how long different sentences take to become “spent”, which is known as the rehabilitation period . Once a conviction is spent, it is not disclosed on a Basic DBS check. Some more serious offences never become spent. For example, certain serious violent, sexual or terrorism offences listed in Schedule 18 of the Sentencing Act 2020, and sentences given specifically for the protection of the public, will always be disclosed on a Basic DBS certificate. If there are no unspent convictions or conditional cautions, the certificate will clearly state that there is no information held. For full guidance on Basic DBS checks, including the online application route and detailed employer information, visit the DBS pages on GOV.UK. For more information on Basic DBS Checks, please see our detailed guide here. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/building-trust-in-property-a-practical-guide-to-dbs-basic-checks/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2026/building-trust-in-property-a-practical-guide-to-dbs-basic-checks/ Fri, 30 January 2026 11:22:16 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/architectural-technology-student-announced-as-the-winner-of-2025-national-student-awards/ Women in Property has announced the winner of the 2025 National Student Awards, now in their 19th year.  Ellen Campbell, studying BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology at Leeds Beckett University, claimed the top prize, competing against 15 other students from across the UK in the national final.  As well as studying for her degree part time, Ellen works as a trainee Architectural Technologist for Align Property Partners in North Yorkshire, where she works on both residential and commercial projects across the North East. The Awards programme runs regionally each year, when universities are invited to nominate their top students studying on a built environment degree course.  The regional nominees go in front of a judging panel of industry professionals when they are questioned about a specific piece of coursework as well as their own career aspirations.   The winners go through to the ‘Best of the Best’ final, in September, again facing a judging panel when they are challenged on topical industry issues.  This year, 142 students from 69 universities across the UK participated in the Awards, with 16 going through to the final round. Emma Richman, National Chair of Women in Property and Executive Director of Operations at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, sat on the judging panel alongside Malik Hussain of Amazon and Susannah Philp of Savills, both national sponsors of the Awards.  The judges described the depth and breadth of Ellen’s industry knowledge as outstanding, covering everything from lack of resource to population growth, in her well-considered answers.  In response to the judges’ ‘ice breaker’ question “ Who would you most like to have dinner with and why?” Ellen named comedian Sarah Millican, whom she said is her inspiration – a woman who stays vigilant, is honest, truthful and humble, but is able to hold a room.  Ellen commented that she herself has gone “from nothing”, to being able to lead meetings, mainly full of men.  As for the property and construction industry, she urges that it needs to attract diverse talent, retain diverse talent, and change culture at the top. Women in Property National Chair, Emma Richman said, “As judges, we get almost as much from this process as the students do.   They are genuinely inspiring and a reminder of how much we can learn from the next generation entering our industry.   They challenge the status quo, bring fresh ideas and, without exception, a real sense of responsibility and stewardship for the sustainability of our built and natural environment.  My congratulations go to all of them but particularly Ellen, our 2025 winner.” Susannah Philp, director at Savills, said “I was delighted to be part of this year’s Women in Property National Student Awards judging panel.  It was inspiring to meet the best Real Estate and Built Environment talent at the start of their careers.  I am sure that they will all have an impactful contribution to the industry going forward.  Congratulations to all the candidates who made it to the Final and in particular to Ellen for coming out top.” Commenting on her success, Ellen said, “I’m over the moon to have received this award - I feel like this is a true testament to the phrase ‘hard work pays off’! It’s not always easy, but studying for a degree whilst working full time has given me immeasurable experience and knowledge. I’m extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to be in a room with so many other inspiring women. Sarah Millican, if you’re reading this – I’m open to a dinner.” As well as a trophy, Ellen wins a cheque for £1,000, membership of Women in Property and access to its acclaimed Mentoring programme. Such was the quality of the candidates the judges decided to also present a Highly Commended Award.  This went to Urban Planning and Real Estate student, Hannah Johal, studying at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. Over 1,800 students have passed through the National Student Awards programme since they were first held in 2007.  The 2026 programme will soon be underway, with universities being invited to nominate their top female students for the first round in the judging process. Pictured: Malik Hussain, Amazon, Susannah Philp, Savills, Emma Richman, WiP and 2025 National Student Awards winner, Ellen Campbell https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/architectural-technology-student-announced-as-the-winner-of-2025-national-student-awards/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/architectural-technology-student-announced-as-the-winner-of-2025-national-student-awards/ Tue, 23 September 2025 12:49:53 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/becoming-a-wip-mentor/ Anyone can be a mentor; we all have valuable experience which can be of use to another Women in Property member.  Our mentoring programme relies on volunteer mentors, so we ask our members to please consider putting yourself forward. Becoming a Mentor works both ways.  Not only are you ‘giving back’, you are also learning a great deal from the mentee. It is an extremely rewarding experience. “I have found the whole Mentor role to be really valuable, personally.  Through the conversations we have had it has reminded me of my own priorities.”  Hannah Lloyd, Business Development Manager, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation.   The mentoring programme is open to members only.  In order to participate in the scheme, members must attend a training session before they can be matched with a suitable mentee.  If you’re interested in taking the first step towards a rewarding mentoring partnership, register your interest here . https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/becoming-a-wip-mentor/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/becoming-a-wip-mentor/ Mon, 15 September 2025 09:27:52 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/all-party-parliamentary-group-women-and-work/ Women in Property is an active participant of this cross-party group, which provides a Parliamentary forum to examine constructively and debate the role that policy makers can play to deliver gender balance within the economy. It also allows Members of Parliament and interested stakeholders to examine the responsibilities of employers and to explore what more is required from the private, public and third sectors to deliver the Government's ambitions for women and work. WiP senior team attends both in person at Westminster and virtually, and members can also sign-up to attend on Zoom. National Chair Emma Richman attended in June, to hear from speakers on Entrepreneurship: Breaking barriers for female founders while, most recently, we were thrilled to be invited to give a short presentation on the Building Balance survey and its key outcomes at the session entitled Making industry work for women. Helen James, South West Committee Member, led the discussion with Jennifer Winyard, former National Chair, presided over by APPG Co-Chair Catherine Fookes MP. At the end of this current programme of meetings, the APPG Secretariat will prepare a report that deep-dives into the issues raised across the year, including referencing the Building Balance Survey and our subsequent reports. Our thanks go to Helen James for her ongoing commitment to this piece of work Click here   for further information and links to the APPG reports. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/all-party-parliamentary-group-women-and-work/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/all-party-parliamentary-group-women-and-work/ Tue, 05 August 2025 15:51:11 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/changes-to-uk-real-estate-tax-opportunities-for-reform-and-investment/ Stacy Eden leads the real estate team at RSM. Stacy recently took part in a panel session hosted by Women in Property in partnership with RSM, at UKREiiF. Recent analysis has revealed that the UK has the highest property tax burden in the G7. The average developed country pays 2.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in property taxes while the UK is more than a third higher at 3.7%. For the highly taxed UK real estate industry, the Spring Statement was more about what wasn’t announced than what was. Ahead of the Chancellor’s update, the industry held its breath hoping for some good news about the myriad of taxes they pay. Unfortunately, all it got was a consultation on advance tax certainty for major projects. There was no relief for the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) increases which have now kicked in for the housing market, no measures to mitigate the burden of business rates, and no action to address rising capital gains tax (CGT) rates. Some help, no matter how small, would have been widely applauded by the real estate industry. RSM’s latest Real Estate 360° survey reported that the overarching sentiment is that tax concerns, whether based on actual changes or perceived threats, have undeniably come to the forefront of investment considerations. Real estate businesses ranked the tax rules they believe should be reformed to increase investment in UK real estate evenly across the board, with 31% ranking CGT and stamp taxes above the rest. A third cited additional tax concerns as an investment barrier. The report further explores the tax reforms needed to stimulate investment, boosted by more certainty and clear rules. However, the recent government spending review revealed a challenging fiscal position and has left the Chancellor with little room for manoeuvre. The combination of increased spending commitments and a challenging outlook make further tax increases in the next Autumn Budget increasingly likely. Through manifesto commitments the government has been boxed in and the decision to raise National Insurance contributions was to the detriment of employers, adding additional financial pressure and reducing capacity to hire and retain staff. The abolition of the non-dom regime and inheritance tax changes may have made the UK less attractive as a place to reside and for inward investment. To address the housing crisis, the government aims to speed up planning and achieve its ambitious new homes and affordable homes target. However, tax constraints remain a key concern for investors, showing the necessity of further reforms to drive investment and ensure mandatory housebuilding targets are realised. Additionally, the shortage of planning officers, is also delaying progress. In the longer term, sustained economic growth depends on businesses having the clarity and confidence to invest with certainty, meet housing demands, and bring liquidity to the market. Read more RSM’s latest Real Estate 360° report reveals the outlook for the year ahead and analyses the challenges and investment opportunities real estate businesses are facing. Based on a survey of over 200 respondents, it covers key topics including the economic and funding outlook, asset class trends, the tax landscape, infrastructure and policy, and sustainability. To find out more, view the report here. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/changes-to-uk-real-estate-tax-opportunities-for-reform-and-investment/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/changes-to-uk-real-estate-tax-opportunities-for-reform-and-investment/ Mon, 30 June 2025 11:47:51 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/introducing-women-in-property-s-new-limited-board-chair-rachel-bell/ In fact, Rachel really doesn’t need an introduction, given her high industry profile!  As a former National Chair (2021-2022), South West Branch Chair, and on the former National Advisory Board since 2018, when it transitioned into the Limited Company Board, she has been a leading light for many years. Rachel has been fundamental in the redevelopment of the organisation. She was heavily involved in the Work Groups and revised strategy, working closely with former Chair, Candice Blackwood, to form the new Company structure and appoint the new Limited Board. Rachel is an Architect, and Director of Partnerships at Stride Treglown, and is a mentor through the Circle Partnership, a patron for LandAid and is involved in judging several industry awards, as well as winning many awards and accolades herself. In the last five years she has travelled three times to lead a women’s empowerment trip to Malawi, often accompanied by other WiP members; her next adventure is planned for October 2025 and new plans are forming for the 2026 trip.  And, under her mantra ‘Stand Tall’, she supports and encourages everyone to step up and out of their comfort zone - check out the three seasons of the ‘ Stand Tall’ podcast . Joining Rachel as Vice Chair is Hannah Lloyd, Business Development Manager at Built Environment-Smarter Transformation, near Glasgow.  Hannah chaired the former Women in Property Scotland Advisory Group and, in what little spare time she has left, hosts the Women in Wellies podcast . Together, Rachel and Hannah will grow the Limited Board including encouraging greater regional representation at national level. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/introducing-women-in-property-s-new-limited-board-chair-rachel-bell/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/introducing-women-in-property-s-new-limited-board-chair-rachel-bell/ Thu, 19 June 2025 14:42:38 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/transformational-funding-announcement-for-social-housing/ Emma Richman, National Chair of Women in Property WiP National Chair, Emma Richman, is Executive Director of Operations at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust. She also holds a board position with another housing association in the North West, is Vice Chair of the Building Safety panel, and sits on the Quality of Existing Homes panel at the National Housing Federation (NHF).  Her nearly 30 years’ experience in the sector makes her eminently qualified to comment on the Chancellor’s recent social housing and affordable homes funding announcement. “Labour’s announcement of £39 billion into social and affordable housing is unprecedented.  It represents a massive increase on the budget set by the previous Government and is a tremendous boost for the sector.  Kate Henderson and her team at the NHF deserve recognition for this.  They have worked incredibly hard and, with the backing of Angela Rayner who grew up in social housing, the Government is now far better informed of the issues faced. The money will be allocated through grants over the next ten years and, as we understand it, the spending will be more regionalised, via the devolved Local Authorities some of which are better established than others, notably Liverpool, Manchester and London. Some clarification is still needed.  For example, will any of this budget be used for regeneration or just additionality?    Previously Homes England would only support new units, but this is a problem if, for example, five new houses are built to replace a block of 20 bedsits, when the numbers are reduced and funding is affected.  However, a lot of the older housing stock is not fit for purpose and often it is better to take them down and replace with new properties that are future-proofed, taking in all the environmental and community benefits available.  Much of this simply can’t be retrofitted in old stock, to a sustainable level.  Some of the new, bigger schemes are built using modular construction, which is fantastic as the more you can build, the greater value you will get.  It doesn’t currently give the same return for smaller schemes. This is particularly important when you consider the demands placed on this sector – all with the best intentions but the pressure on social housing providers is enormous.  There are regulatory and safety requirements, Consumer Standards, Awaab’s Law, and residential rented property must reach EPC C by 2030.  To date, there hasn’t been the money available to implement these very important improvements, but they are critical, so the funding announcement is more than welcome.   Another announcement that will be transformational for the sector is that, for decades, housing associations have suffered from rising costs, but they have had to accept a fixed, low rent.  We can now increase rent by 1% above inflation for the next ten years.  Housing associations work to 30-year business plans, so having this level of certainty for our financial projections gives certainty.  And like the rest of the property and construction industry, certainty is all important, allowing for investment and development in the homes most needed by some of the most disadvantaged in our society. Rent convergence was also part of last week’s announcement.   Some housing associations have extremely low rents, compared with other locations, which puts them at a real disadvantage.  The aim is to bring rents onto a level playing field, across geographical areas.  Levelling this out will be a great help to them, again giving confidence to the sector and its investors.  Collectively, these measures should go a long way towards supporting the Government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029.” https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/transformational-funding-announcement-for-social-housing/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/transformational-funding-announcement-for-social-housing/ Thu, 19 June 2025 14:34:33 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-protecting-you-legacy/ Lucy Young, Financial Planner at Independent Women Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on the estate of someone who has passed away. It can be a complex topic. However, with careful planning and strategic management, you can mitigate your potential IHT liability and ensure that your estate and legacy are protected from a large tax bill upon your death. Changes from the Autumn Budget The Autumn Budget of October 2024 brought significant announcements on Inheritance Tax, which will impact estate planning for many : Threshold Freezes The threshold for IHT has been frozen at £325,000 for a further two years (from 2028 to 2030), meaning that the amount you can inherit without paying tax remains the same. This means that as asset values increase with inflation, more estates will fall within the scope of IHT, a concept known as “fiscal drag” Business Relief (BR) & Agricultural Property Relief Business Relief allows certain business assets to be passed on free of IHT or at a reduced rate. This relief is crucial for family-owned businesses looking to minimize tax liabilities Agricultural Property Relief provides relief on agricultural property, such as farms. This can significantly reduce the IHT owed on these types of properties The Chancellor has announced reforms to these, including limiting 100% relief to the first £1 million of a person’s combined agricultural and business assets, with 50% relief applying to assets in excess of this. This change will significantly impact those with substantial agricultural and business holdings Pensions It was announced that an individual’s pensions will also fall within the scope of IHT from April 2027, until which point they will remain exempt   Inheritance Tax Planning Considerations To manage your IHT liability in light of these changes, it is essential to consider various strategies. It is important to note that each individual’s plan will be bespoke and it is important to be fully aware of all the relative advantages and disadvantages of each option before proceeding, as they have significant implications on access, control and sustainability of lifestyle Gifting Directly Gifting assets directly to family members can reduce the value of your estate and, consequently, the IHT owed. There are annual limits on how much you can gift tax-free Trusts Trusts can be used to manage and protect assets for future generations. They can offer flexibility and control over how assets are distributed whilst also potentially reducing IHT Life Cover Life cover can provide funds to pay IHT, ensuring that your executors don't have to sell assets to cover the tax bill. It's a practical way to manage the financial impact of IHT. It is important to write the policy into trust to avoid it being included in your estate for IHT purposes Business Relief (BR) As mentioned earlier, Business Relief can be a valuable tool for reducing IHT on business assets, as can investing in assets that qualify for BR Conclusion Inheritance Tax can be daunting, but understanding the changes from the Autumn Budget and considering various options can help you manage it effectively. In light of these changes, ensure you plan ahead and seek professional advice to protect your legacy. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-protecting-you-legacy/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-protecting-you-legacy/ Wed, 18 June 2025 15:31:08 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-planning-your-retirement/ Lucy Young, Financial Planner at Independent Women Retirement is a significant milestone in life, and it's essential to approach it with careful planning and consideration. Whether you're nearing retirement, at the point of retirement, or already enjoying this stage of life, understanding the steps you need to take and the considerations to keep in mind can make all the difference. This blog post will guide you through each of these stages. Before Retiring Before you retire, it's crucial to assess your financial situation and plan for the future What you need to do: Gather statements for your pensions and investments Obtain a State Pension forecast Decide your non-negotiable expenditures Consider paying off any outstanding debts to reduce your financial stress during retirement Spend time emotionally coming to terms with retiring Where a Financial Planner can help: Review your pension arrangements to ensure they will provide sufficient flexibility in retirement Consider the tax implications of withdrawing from your pension and explore options such as annuities or flexible access Evaluate your savings and investments to ensure they are structured in a tax-efficient manner. Take advantage of available allowances and reliefs to maximize your returns, particularly whilst you are working Demonstrate the impact paying off any outstanding debt has on your financial position using cashflow modelling At Retirement Reaching retirement is a time of huge change and this stage requires big decisions. What you need to do: Set your retirement date Inform your employer Decide the income you would like to receive in retirement Plan your activities for your early retirement Understand who your support crew are Where a Financial Planner can help: Inform you on how to withdraw your defined contribution pension funds. Options include taking a lump sum, opting for a drawdown plan or purchasing an annuity. Each option has different tax implications and benefits. Identify all sources of income, including state pension, workplace pensions, savings, and investments and consider how to draw on your assets tax efficiently in retirement Consider the potential need for long-term care and how it will be funded. Options include insurance, savings, or setting aside assets. It's essential to plan for this possibility to avoid financial strain later in life. During Retirement During retirement it is important to periodically review your financial situation adjustments needed so that you can continue to enjoy your retirement. What you need to do: Monitor your spending and if needed, adjust your budget Stay active and engaged in your finances Maintain your social connections Pursue your hobbies Where a Financial Planner can help: Review the sustainability of your longer term financial plan, and whether any adjustments to spending are needed to prevent any shortfalls later in life. Review your investment strategy regularly to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Stay informed about changes in tax legislation and adjust your financial plans accordingly, regularly reviewing your tax situation to take advantage of any new allowances or reliefs. Planning for retirement is not just about ensuring your finances are in order – it is also about providing peace of mind for yourself and your family. By making the right choices, you can protect your assets, minimize tax liabilities, and ensure that your retirement years are enjoyable, comfortable and secure. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-planning-your-retirement/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-planning-your-retirement/ Wed, 21 May 2025 14:51:38 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-seeking-national-facilitator-for-the-national-student-awards-programme/ Come and work on Women in Property’s National Student Awards  National influencer and networking organisation, Women in Property, is recruiting for a Facilitator for its highly acclaimed National Student Awards.   The Facilitator role is fundamental to the roll-out of this annual Awards programme.  If you are highly organised, committed to the development of women in the property and construction industry and excited to work with a warm, enthusiastic team across the UK, read on. The National Student Awards 2025 is the 19 th  year in which WiP has run our  National Student Awards  programme. The aim?  To help correct the industry’s gender imbalance, strengthening the previously poor links between education and academia and encouraging young women seeking a career in the industry. The Awards remain the only programme of their type in the industry and continue to attract enthusiastic support from UK universities and businesses. Over the past 19 years over 1,600 students have been through the Awards programme, which explores their course work, challenges their wider industry knowledge and encourages them to hone and develop their interpersonal skills. 2025 has seen a talented and diverse group of contenders, with 142 students nominated by their lecturers, representing 62 Universities.  Just 14 go through to the National Final. The  National Student Awards Facilitator  role requires a highly organised and proactive individual.  They will work closely with the National Awards Administrator and the Regional Student Awards Ambassadors where applicable and provide essential support in the selection and feedback processes. This is a part-time role spread over 12 months. As Facilitator you will be a key part of the Awards team, overseeing and facilitating all the interview days, over a busy two-month period in January and February, and providing feedback for the participants.  The role involves travel nationally to all interview days but is otherwise remote.  Start date: Monday 6 th   October 2025     . Full details can be  found here. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 30th May 2025.  Proposals should be submitted by email to the National Student Awards Lead:   jennifer.winyard@barratthomes.co.uk We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences and genders. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-seeking-national-facilitator-for-the-national-student-awards-programme/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-seeking-national-facilitator-for-the-national-student-awards-programme/ Tue, 06 May 2025 09:19:24 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-financial-planning-in-the-new-tax-year/ Lucy Young, Financial Planner at Independent Women As the new tax year began on 6th April, it is important to be aware of the common personal finance allowances that refresh. Understanding your financial goals and time horizons is crucial. You will rely on a number of allowances at each stage of your financial journey, from saving into ISAs and pensions during your working years to build wealth, to leveraging inheritance tax allowances and gifting strategies in later life for succession planning. During this blog, we look at each of life’s key stages in turn. Building Wealth Identifying key expenditures such as house, school fees, and other significant costs is the first step in building wealth. Once you have a grasp of your monthly outgoings, you can then consider saving any surplus income. ISAs are a tax-efficient way to save and invest your money, offering tax-free interest and returns on your savings and investments. For the 2024/25 tax year, you can add up to £20,000 across all your ISAs. If you have children or grandchildren, Junior ISAs (JISAs) are also a tax-efficient way to save for their future. Pensions also offer a tax-efficient way to save for the future, as your contributions may benefit from tax relief and any interest or investment growth earned is tax-free. Considering Retirement When considering retirement, it's important to have a clear income strategy incorporating each of your sources of income. It is also crucial to have an emergency cash fund that is at an enhanced level so that were there to be a significant drop in the value of your invested assets prior to your retirement, you retain some flexibility. A tax efficient income strategy from your pension in retirement may mean you consider taking smaller, regular withdrawals to stay within lower tax brackets and utilize tax-free allowances. Understanding the rules around pension charging can help you avoid any unauthorised payments and tax penalties. Retirement income tends to come from a number of different pots (including your pension), and so it is important to consider that the capital gains tax (CGT) allowance was cut from £12,300 to £6,000 for the 2023/24 tax year, and the annual exemption halved again on 6th April last year to just £3,000. Dividend and savings allowances have also reduced in recent years and so a clearly defined strategy has become increasingly important for the overall longevity of financial plans. Succession Planning Later in life, succession planning involves considering inheritance tax (IHT) allowances and gifting. The nil rate band for IHT is £325,000, meaning that estates valued below this threshold are not subject to IHT. If you give away your home to your children or grandchildren, the threshold can increase to £500,000. Additionally, there are various reliefs such as Business Relief and Agricultural Relief that allow some assets to be passed on free of IHT or with a reduced bill. Gifting, through the use of your available allowances that refresh annually, can be an effective way to reduce the value of your estate both during your lifetime and on death to potentially lower the IHT liability on your estate. Stay Informed of Changes Staying informed about changes in tax rates and allowances is crucial. The new tax year brings several changes, and being aware of these changes can help you make informed decisions and optimize your financial position. Regularly reviewing and updating your plan is essential to ensure that it remains relevant and achievable, as is having the visibility of your long term strategy via cash flow modelling. Remember, the goal of financial planning is to provide you with peace of mind and financial security, and a flexible plan can change and adapt just as life does too. By considering these key areas and staying informed, you can harness your financial power and achieve your goals for the year ahead. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-financial-planning-in-the-new-tax-year/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-financial-planning-in-the-new-tax-year/ Wed, 16 April 2025 13:03:27 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-understanding-your-blind-spots/ Lucy Young, Financial Planner at Independent Women In today's world, women are increasingly taking charge of their financial destinies and harnessing their financial power. With a well-structured personal financial plan, you can transform your financial dreams into reality. Independent Women is running a series of webinars with Women in Property , to help you feel empowered when it comes to your finances, taking a look at money through a female lens and understanding the unique challenges faced by women managing their finances. Understanding Your Blind Spots Even the most meticulous individual can overlook certain financial blind spots that can have significant consequences. In this blog post, we'll explore some common blind spots when it comes to financial planning, including the importance of knowing your numbers, having a critical friend as well as considering common "what ifs," and avoiding common succession planning mistakes. One of the most fundamental aspects of financial planning is knowing your numbers. This means having a clear understanding of your income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities. Without this knowledge, it's impossible to create an accurate and effective financial plan. Many people underestimate their expenses or overestimate their income, leading to unrealistic financial goals and plans. Regularly reviewing and updating your financial information is essential to ensure that your plan remains relevant and achievable. Another critical element of financial planning is having a ‘critical friend.’ This is someone who can provide an objective perspective on your financial decisions and plans. A ‘critical friend’ can help you identify potential issues or blind spots that you may have overlooked. They can also provide valuable feedback and advice, helping you make more informed and balanced decisions. It's important to choose someone who is knowledgeable about financial matters and who you trust to be honest and objective. A crucial pitfall in financial planning is the failure to consider "what if" scenarios. Life is unpredictable, and unexpected events can have a significant impact on your financial situation and longer-term financial plan. It's important to consider potential risks and plan for them accordingly. This might include having an emergency fund, and insurance policies in place. By considering these "what if" scenarios, you can create a more resilient and adaptable financial plan. Succession planning is an aspect of financial planning that many individuals come to consider in later life and it is important to be aware of common mistakes that can be made, including failing to create a will and not considering the tax implications of gifting. It's important to work with a financial planner or tax professional to ensure that your succession planning is in line with your wishes without creating unexpected consequences. In conclusion, financial planning is a complex and ongoing process that requires careful consideration of various factors. By knowing your numbers, having a critical friend, considering "what if" scenarios, and avoiding common succession planning mistakes, you can create a more effective and resilient financial plan. Regularly reviewing and updating your plan is essential to ensure that it remains relevant and achievable. Remember, the goal of financial planning is to provide you with peace of mind and financial security, so it's worth taking the time to address these common blind spots. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-understanding-your-blind-spots/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-understanding-your-blind-spots/ Tue, 11 March 2025 14:00:00 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/women-in-property-appoints-new-national-chair/ Emma Richman takes the role from 1 st March 2025 Women in Property (WiP) has announced its new National Chair for 2025-26.  Emma Richman, Director of Operations at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, takes on the role from 1 st March, for one year. Emma, who has degrees in Building Surveying from the University of Salford, and Architecture from the Bartlett UCL, is Executive Director of Operations at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust in Macclesfield.  She has been a member of WiP for 15 years and has worked in the social housing sector for nearly 30, holding NED and executive positions with a number of North West based housing associations, as well as sitting on two National Housing Federation panels. “My entire career has been based around doing what is needed most in communities, prioritising and empowering people as best we can, as social housing providers, to provide affordable housing.  We must balance this with all the challenges posed by a very tough operating environment, with increasing costs, new consumer standards but ensuring we support our vulnerable customers.” Emma Is also a Board Member of Manchester Women’s Aid, part of the Pankhurst Trust and, in her spare time, tour guides for the Pankhurst Museum in Manchester. “All of this chimes really well with what Women in Property is all about and I’m honoured to be appointed to National Chair.  Our outgoing National Chair Jennifer Winyard and Chithra Marsh before her, have worked on unlocking potential and bringing people into focus.  I’m developing this further with my theme, “People and community first” which I hope we’ll be able to reflect in our events, partnerships and messaging over the next year or so.” Women in Property is also welcoming its new National Vice Chair, Samantha McCabe, a former Central Scotland Branch Chair.  Samantha recently started a new role with WSP as Sustainable Building Lead, Scotland, and will be supporting Emma in the coming year, before taking on the National Chair role in March 2026. Women in Property’s National Chair term lasts for one year, as part of the three-strong National team, which comprises Emma Richman, Samantha McCabe and outgoing National Chair, Jennifer Winyard.  All three also attend the WiP Limited Company Board meetings and steer the seven nationwide Branches through the National Steering Group, so ensuring continuity of leadership and experience for the organisation. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/women-in-property-appoints-new-national-chair/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/women-in-property-appoints-new-national-chair/ Fri, 07 March 2025 14:15:12 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-the-power-of-a-personal-financial-plan/ Lucy Young, Financial Planner at Independent Women In today's world, women are increasingly taking charge of their financial destinies and harnessing their financial power. With a well-structured personal financial plan, you can transform your financial dreams into reality. Independent Women is running a series of webinars with Women in Property , to help you feel empowered when it comes to your finances, taking a look at money through a female lens and understanding the unique challenges faced by women managing their finances. By defining your goals and setting clear objectives a financial plan will give you confidence that you are on track and, if the unexpected were to happen, you are prepared. The Power of a Personal Financial Plan Start with a Clear Vision The first step in growing your wealth is to define your financial goals. What do you want to achieve? Whether it's buying a home, starting a business, or securing a comfortable retirement, having a clear vision gives you direction and purpose and provides a roadmap for your financial journey. Once your goals are defined, set clear objectives for achieving them. You can break down each goal into actionable steps that you can begin to work through to achieve both your short-term and long-term objectives. Setting objectives makes your goals attainable and keeps you motivated. Create a Budget A budget is a fundamental tool for managing your finances. It helps you track your income and expenditure, ensuring that you live within your means while setting aside funds for your goals. Start by listing all your sources of income and then your monthly expenses, focusing on your ‘core’ expenses i.e. household bills and groceries. Don’t forget to also set aside funds for those larger one-off costs such as holidays and home renovations.   Build an Emergency Fund An emergency fund acts as a safety net, providing you with financial security in times of need. Unexpected expenses, for example the boiler breaking down, can have significant consequences without an emergency fund in place and can derail your financial plans. Having an appropriately sized fund in place will give you peace of mind and prevent you from dipping into your investments or going into debt during emergencies. However, you should ensure you do not hold too much in cash as inflation means money in the bank can lose ‘real value’ over time. Invest Wisely Investing is a powerful way to grow your wealth over time. Investments should be appropriately diversified and should take a level of risk that you personally are comfortable taking. Protect your Wealth Insurance is a crucial component of financial planning as it keeps your financial plan on track through thick and thin. The right insurance policies for you and your loved ones can mitigate the financial impact of unexpected events such as illness, accidents or death. You may already have protection through your employer, and it is important to check your existing protection before setting up any policies. Estate planning is also essential to protect your assets and provide for your loved ones after you're gone. A Will should be written to reflect your up to date wishes and you should appoint an executor capable of carrying out your wishes on your passing. A (Lasting) Power of Attorney should be put in place to ensure that, were you to lose capacity, your appointed person/people can continue to act on your behalf without timely delay and cost.   Regular Financial Reviews Your financial plan should be dynamic, evolving as your life circumstances change. Staying proactive ensures that you remain on track to achieving your financial goals. Conclusion A well-structured financial plan gives you confidence that you are on track. It can provide peace of mind, reducing stress and anxiety. With a plan in place, you can make informed decisions, knowing that each step brings you closer to your financial dreams. By growing and protecting your wealth through a personal financial plan, you can turn your aspirations into reality. Define your goals, set clear objectives, and stay prepared for the unexpected. With determination and strategic planning, you can confidently harness your financial power. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-the-power-of-a-personal-financial-plan/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/harnessing-your-financial-power-the-power-of-a-personal-financial-plan/ Wed, 05 February 2025 14:00:00 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-limited-appoints-new-directors-and-non-executive-directors/ We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new Directors and two Non-Executive Directors to the Board of Women in Property Ltd.  We advertised the Board opportunities in the newsletter, on the website and Linked In and were delighted with the high quality responses received.  We had two afternoons of interviews resulting in four fantastic appointments who each bring the skills and additional professional acumen the organisation needs as we continue to grow. Nicola Rudman  and  Siobhan Ryder  will both be familiar faces to North West members, having been members of Women in Property for some years and both join the Board as Directors.   Nicola heads Strategic Business Development for Fairhurst Architects and brings extensive experience in management accounting, finance and risk mitigation.  She is North West branch Treasurer and a former branch Chair.  With her ten year involvement with WiP, Nic is keen to help support and maintain the integrity of the organisation.  She is a highly accomplished Finance Manager with extensive experience in driving profitability, enhancing productivity, and mitigating financial risks.   Siobhan runs her own consultancy business, Campbell Consult, providing marketing, business development and BID support services to construction clients.  She is a long-standing member of WiP and is currently sponsorship co-ordinator for the North West branch.  Siobhan was keen to get more involved with WiP at Board level,  as we have a strong track record for supporting women navigating their careers in the property sector.  Siobhan is committed to sharing knowledge, skills and experience with the next generation of property professionals, as well as helping to shape the future strategic direction of WiP, to ensure the continuity of professionalism and high standards. Dan Sames joins as a Non-Executive Director.  A Senior Lecturer of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University, he has been a tremendous supporter of the National Student Awards programme, putting forward students for the South East Awards year on year. Seeing many of the participants from Oxford Brookes build careers within the property sector and become role models, was the motivation to have more involvement with Women in Property and help the organisation champion women within the industry. Dan has been a local government councillor for 25 years, with extensive experience of dealing with politicians from all parties at both a national and a local level.  His experience at Oxford Brookes also connects him with the entire property sector. Hannah Allum is our second NED.  Hannah advises on the global real estate portfolio at Shell, including initiatives focused on sustainability and energy transition, where she has worked to integrate renewable solutions into real estate development.  Hannah is a lawyer by background and experienced in corporate governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement and is adept at identifying opportunities for growth and efficiency, all of which are important skills for this role. The appointments come further to a three-year period of organisational change and restructuring, now we have moved from an Unincorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee, retaining our not-for-profit status, and joining all Branches and associated Event Hubs into one administrative structure.  The membership and support structure has grown significantly over the last couple of years and there is some truly inspiring work going on across the Branches, as well as some fabulous events.   Our eight-strong Board now includes six WiP members – Candice Blackwood, Rachel Bell, Shannon Conway, Hannah Lloyd, Nicola Rudman and Siobhan Ryder, as well as Dan Sames and Hannah Allum.  All are voluntary roles, for a four-year term.  Former National Chair Nicola Jones also attends Board meetings in an advisory capacity.  The National Team – National Chair, National Vice Chair and immediate past National Chair - also attend the quarterly Board meetings, together with members of the Executive team as required. With the formation of the new Limited Board, we say goodbye to four NEDs and one director, who were members of the National Advisory Board and have each retired at different times over the three year transition process.  Each have in different ways inspired, provoked and given us the benefit of their knowledge, guidance and support through the changes of the past few years.  So, a heartfelt thank you to our former NEDs Simon Marks (Arcadis), Iestyn Roberts (Freeport Retail), Keith Clarke CBE (the Active Building Centre), Gail Robson (London Park Lane Associates), and to Ann Allen (now Executive Director Campus Innovation and Development at the University of Leeds).  We are immensely grateful to you all for your time and commitment to Women in Property over many years. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-limited-appoints-new-directors-and-non-executive-directors/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2025/wip-limited-appoints-new-directors-and-non-executive-directors/ Thu, 23 January 2025 10:52:17 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/inclusivity-climate-change-and-active-travel/ Isla Jackson, Director at Civic Engineers Climate change will impact all of us, but, due to inequalities in society, not everyone will be affected in the same way. And with the Government announcing its plans to rebuild Britain, kickstarting the delivery of 1.5m homes and investing in transport, it’s a critical moment for us to focus on inclusivity, sustainable living and community making as we repurpose our streets, spaces and places for the future. Take the way we move around our built environment as one example where we must prioritise inclusivity. According to the latest National Travel Survey, the most common trip purpose in the UK in 2023 was shopping (18%). And yet, all too often, transport networks are planned around commuting, which accounts for only 13% of journeys. When we look at the survey’s gender disaggregated data, men travel longer distances by car, and women make shorter distance trips, and are more often on foot. If we shifted our planning to accommodate these patterns, we could make these shorter journeys – of which there are so many – safe and attractive to do on foot, or by bike. Imagine the time and carbon saved, not to mention the drop in emissions and reduction of congestion. We are currently working across the UK to develop projects which will improve those shorter and more local journeys that will undoubtedly benefit women, as well as older and younger people, disabled people or those who might not have access to cars. Projects such as Glasgow’s transformative ‘Avenues’, Northfield Grove and Making Places Woodside here in Scotland, alongside the newly-opened Kingsway in Stretford and Climate Innovation District in Leeds, all prioritise cycle lanes and improved crossings to support more walking, wheeling and cycling. Alongside the active travel provision in these schemes, we’ve weaved in nature-based solutions and sustainable urban drainage to reduce the risk of flooding, and create more attractive, safer and nature-based public realms and streets that are both more inclusive and climate resilient. Inclusive planning must be wide ranging, with an in-depth examination of barriers to active travel. A key factor is around safety and perceptions of safety in public spaces. This means thinking carefully about planting, lighting and how an attractive tree-lined path, which seems so pleasant on a summer afternoon, can have an entirely different atmosphere on a wet winter evening. We need to think not just about the mapping of a project, but about the behaviours that will be projected on it. With transport accounting for a quarter of all carbon emissions, it is imperative that we find more environmentally-friendly ways to get around. And doing this means developing safe and efficient transport networks with the lives and experiences of women in mind. The schemes delivered must be assessed for gender equality, and invested fairly in the lives of everyone, starting with low-tech, easy to navigate walking infrastructure, and hard-wiring in places where women and girls feel comfortable and confident enough to reclaim the streets. Excellent cycling infrastructure would allow many more to cycle around town; and they would be fitter and more confident when it comes to travelling on their own. We must plan our streets and transport networks to accommodate this flexibility, so that active, clean travel becomes the optimum way to get around for everyone. Inclusivity means creating happier, healthier and more sustainable communities, which is why it’s vital that diverse perspectives are at the heart of our designs for buildings, parks, towns and cities. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/inclusivity-climate-change-and-active-travel/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/inclusivity-climate-change-and-active-travel/ Mon, 18 November 2024 09:53:28 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-dr-marie-macklin-cbe-keynote-speaker-at-pipbywip/ As we head towards my keynote speech in Edinburgh this November at The Women in Property   ‘The People-Innovation-Place Summit’ , I take this time to congratulate all the Women in Property Committee for staging such a prestigious event and the amazing delegates attending this summit for all that you do for our sector and our great country. I have always admired the work that ‘Women in Property’ have championed across the U.K. to create opportunities, expand knowledge and inspire positive change for all working in the property and the construction industry. Although much has changed for the better, I’m sure we can all agree that more needs to be done to encourage women to choose a career in the property sector and remain in the sector. The construction and property sector has created challenges and obstacles for me over the years - yet provided so many rewards and achievements, both from a personal and professional perspective. With deep roots in the construction industry, initiated by my dad who was a builder and worked hard to scale his business into a successful construction company , it was through listening and learning from to him that I gained the skills, knowledge and insight into an industry that would become a core part of my career and future. Whilst working in London progressing with my career in financial services at the Royal Bank of Scotland, I abruptly had to return home due to a health scare caused by endometriosis. Although an unexpected career change, this led to me buying out transforming the family business, the Klin Group, followed by founding Macklin Enterprise Partnerships- Investment Company and founding the HALO Urban Regeneration Company. I was now fully immersed in the construction world. Community driven Urban Regeneration and brownfield development have always been of significant interest to me and as Managing Director of the Klin Group we would always explore opportunities in areas where we could have positive impact for the community for an aspirational perspective and aesthetic to re-imagine areas that without intervention would have been left behind. In category B listed buildings like Barclay House, The Opera House and the Diageo/Johnnie Walker land, (where HALO is located) are examples of regeneration that has transformed parts of my hometown Kilmarnock. I have worked in many economic challenging areas like Glasgow’s East End, Barrhead, Renfrew, Paisley and Belfast to name a few. And there is one thing they all have in common – they are communities with huge beating hearts of ‘Hope’. Talking about ‘Hope’ leads me to remembering 2009 and the Diageo exit when they started to close down their 35-acre town centre brownfield site in Kilmarnock , This was the final nail in the coffin for my hometown, with 700 job losses in our bottling plant , the home of the iconic Johnnie Walker Whisky. Having seen the demise of my town and many others like it, it was a turning point in my life when I stepped forward with my team to start negotiating with Diageo to gain control of the site. My passion was to create a new vision and new jobs for Kilmarnock and Scotland. From 2009, through public consultation and by bringing my community together, I worked with my team to develop the unique ‘HALO’ development masterplan – Live, Work, Learn, Play – for the former Diageo site in Kilmarnock. The motivation and aim of this were to transform the site into a blueprint for sustainable regeneration and provide short-and long-term economic prosperity for the West Coast of Scotland, an area that is still in the shadow of the demise of mining, manufacturing and heavy industry. There are three phases to HALO including the HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre, a 49, 000sq ft Commercial hub, for PLC UK’s and international tenants. The HALO#Rockme Accelerator for SME’s and the Net Zero growth programme. This is accompanied with 210 sustainable homes, light manufacturing and urban park. Phase one of the development opened in April 2022 and the multifaceted regeneration of the 28-acre former Johnnie Walker site, is on track to generate over £200million in GDP and 1500 jobs. HALO has welcomed a vast influx of praise, recognition of best practice, and multiple visits from high profile national and international policy makers eager to know more about the multi award winning HALO concept and its economic impact. As a test bed 28-acre site for emerging green tech and one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK, The HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre is 7 years ahead of the Paris 2015 Climate Agreement target as monitored by our technology and confirmed by our annual monitoring reports from Strathclyde University. HALO provides visitors and guests with a suite of sustainable and innovative infrastructure from 175 solar panels, Battery Storage, EV Charging, BREEAM Excellent rated, to Platinum Wired Score Wi-Fi, and is the only platinum operational site in Scotland. In its short life the building has been: BCO UK Corporate Workplace of the Year 2022 Finalist in the ‘Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure & Retail’ category of the Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) Design Awards 2021. Best Regeneration Project at the Scottish Property Awards 2022. Featured in RIBA, (Royal Institute of British Architecture) “Reworking the Workplace.” Book publication 2023. The HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre is at the forefront of sustainability: Powered By 60000Kilowatt Solar panels 140 in total. 50-Kilowatt battery Storage EV Bus, Cars and Bikes Hub Test bed site for Iberdrola and Scottish Power Net Zero Green Accelerator for Green Businesses We now have a proof of concept that you can take a market failure town and regenerate the area to create higher income generating employment at the forefront of the 4th industrial revolution, driven from an award winning commercial sustainable building and manufacturing park. This then attracts enterprises that would normally be based in a large city. Then follows the ‘Live’ concept,  with people wanting to move into the HALO Urban sustainable homes – followed by the ‘Play’ part in the Urban Park. When it comes to the ‘Learn’ dimension, we partner with local schools and Ayrshire College and Universities on sustainable courses for our young people. We therefore tick the four areas of true urban regeneration. I believe in bottom-up economic growth and providing a voice for the community. As I say, ‘Let the People Sing Again’. My HALO brand is now ready to be rolled out across the UK and globally, with key partners from all corners of the world including USA, where I am looking forward to visiting in early 2025 with my team, spreading the HALO light of Hope. As I look back at my life working in the City of London and then in Scotland my career was supported by men who believed in me and gave me the chance to aspire which I grabbed with both hands. I will always be grateful to those men, especially Alec Bradley, Martin Morran and Colin Liddell as they let me be heard and gave me the chances. I have faced many challenges and have taken big risks at times, but always calculated and sensible ones. What I’ve learned most about the financial sector and our property industry is that we women belong in it. We have, can and should be part of the conversation and not feel we have no voice and or place to be seen and heard. Only by supporting each other and giving our young women a chance will we create the most sustainable economy for our children’s children. I look forward to being in Edinburgh as keynote speaker on the 14th of November at ‘ Women In Property  ‘The People-Innovation-Place Summit’ where I’ll pick up and share more of my thoughts in some of the themes highlighted within this blog. Best Wishes Marie https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-dr-marie-macklin-cbe-keynote-speaker-at-pipbywip/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-dr-marie-macklin-cbe-keynote-speaker-at-pipbywip/ Wed, 23 October 2024 14:51:01 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/an-ethos-of-developing-and-nurturing-new-talent/ Julie Wilmer is a Director at tp bennett, a long time national sponsor of the Women in Property National Student Awards.  The practice is committed to supporting young people entering the industry and for encouraging a flexible workplace. Why did you sponsor the WiP National Student Awards? Women in Property has been a great resource for many of our designers over the years. The events afford an opportunity for wider industry discussions, widening industry networks and as a safe-space for practicing networking. Sponsoring the National Student Awards was the next logical step in our ongoing relationship with the organisation.  You have welcomed a number of student finalists for work placements over the years.  What value do you believe this brings both to them, and your business? From a selfish point of view being a judge in the awards gives us access to the best-of-the-best ahead of the rest of the industry! We’re always blown away by the quality of the nominees each year, any business would be lucky to have them. The study of Architecture is a strange one in that it differs quite significantly from the actual practice of Architecture. Because of this it is very important to get experience of work in practice at an early stage.    tp bennett has a strong ethos of developing and nurturing young people in the industry.  Would you explain how this works, day to day. In order to maintain a living, breathing, successful business it is imperative to bring in new young talent. So that they can learn from us, but also so that we can learn from them! We have both Level 6 & 7 apprentices and are an enthusiastic partner of Access Aspiration. We’ve had over 50 work experience students through the door this year alone. There are bursaries available to support students financially through university and their professional qualification and also an extensive in-house mentoring programme that is available to all.   tp bennett has created a flexible workplace, what else do you believe is fundamental for great employee retention?   We’re very aware that when you have your head down in a project weeks or months can go by in the blink of an eye. We are keen to create space for wider conversations and as such ensure regular 1-2-1s with all staff. These might only be 20mins but it’s an important ‘pause’ in the day-to-day project running to sit and reflect and to be heard. Targeted goals are incredibly useful to mark progress. We also make sure to celebrate the wins! Acknowledging the hard work of the team goes a long way.  What do you do, to encourage a diverse and inclusive team? Architecture is a team sport. We rely heavily on successful working relationships both internally and also with our external consultant teams. A diverse group of voices is integral to successful problem-solving. I believe strongly that you need to see-it-to-be-it. tp bennett has a number of women in very senior positions. Something that was notable at the time I joined 9 years ago. Having these figureheads spurred me on in my career and I hope that I am able to do the same for others. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/an-ethos-of-developing-and-nurturing-new-talent/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/an-ethos-of-developing-and-nurturing-new-talent/ Wed, 02 October 2024 16:45:43 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/sophie-wins-the-2024-women-in-property-national-student-awards/ Congratulations to Sophie Page, a BSc Architectural Studies student studying at Cardiff University, who was announced winner of the 2024 Women in Property National Student Awards , at the Best of the Best Awards Dinner, held at Claridge’s last night (19 th September).  Sophie competed against 12 other students in the national final of the Awards programme, now in its 18 th year.  Jennifer Winyard, National Chair of Women in Property, said, “What a fabulous outcome for Sophie, who was up against an amazing, talented group of women for the final stage of this nine-month process. This year I have talked a lot about unlocking one’s potential, recognising our own skills and developing our capabilities, none more so than through the National Student Awards programme.  I am delighted for all our Finalists and, in particular, for Sophie who excelled.  These women will be a credit to our industry, and we would like to thank them all for their hard work and professionalism. “We are extremely grateful to our national sponsors, Amazon, Bouygues UK, Savills and tp bennett, and all our regional sponsors, for supporting the Awards and for giving their time to the judging process.  Our thanks also go to the Universities, for their continued support and commitment to the Awards.” https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/sophie-wins-the-2024-women-in-property-national-student-awards/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/sophie-wins-the-2024-women-in-property-national-student-awards/ Fri, 20 September 2024 09:35:20 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/central-scotland-branch-win-at-the-herald-genanalytics-diversity-awards/ Congratulations to the Central Scotland branch which has been presented with the Diversity In The Third or Charity Sector Award , at The Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards, in Glasgow.  The Awards were established to celebrate and recognise those who are working to remove barriers and make society a fairer place for everyone.  The organisers noted that Women in Property is “tirelessly breaking down stereotypes, providing outreach programmes and inspiring young people in schools”.  This is a fabulous achievement and endorsement of all the hard work and commitment shown by WiP volunteers in the Central Scotland branch. Some of this work will be showcased at the People-Innovation-Place Summit hosted by Women in Property on 14 th November at Dynanic Earth in Edinburgh. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/central-scotland-branch-win-at-the-herald-genanalytics-diversity-awards/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/central-scotland-branch-win-at-the-herald-genanalytics-diversity-awards/ Mon, 16 September 2024 17:50:11 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/property-week-s-inspiring-diversity-in-property-campaign/ Women in Property is a firm supporter of Property Week’s Inspiring Diversity in Property (IDiP) campaign which is committed to driving real change in equity, diversity and inclusion in the real estate industry.  Is your company too?  Sign Property Week’s   IDiP Pledge,   committing to continuous and measurable EDI improvement. There is no membership fee - signatories self-evaluate progress on an ongoing basis and ask employees to take part in Property Week’s annual sentiment survey. They also encourage you to share information on EDI issues and initiatives to feature in Property Week. All signatories’ logos are featured on Property Week’s IDiP Pledge page and firms that have signed the Pledge can use the Property Week IDiP badge. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/property-week-s-inspiring-diversity-in-property-campaign/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/property-week-s-inspiring-diversity-in-property-campaign/ Mon, 16 September 2024 10:56:39 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-is-an-official-partner-of-london-build-expo-2024/ Once again, Women in Property is an official partner of London Build Expo, taking place 20-21 November 2024 at Olympia. London Build Expo is the largest event for construction and design, and a great platform for women in the property industry to shine. Network with top professionals, discover cutting-edge innovations, and attend inspiring sessions led by leading figures in construction. Empower your career, make invaluable connections, and be part of a community driving change in the construction world. Register now and take the next step in your professional journey!  LINK:  https://www.londonbuildexpo.com/association-women-property-24 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-is-an-official-partner-of-london-build-expo-2024/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-is-an-official-partner-of-london-build-expo-2024/ Wed, 14 August 2024 16:28:24 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/bristol-women-in-business-charter/ Women in Property South West have formed a partnership with the Bristol Women in Business Charter, whose ambition is to help accelerate the pace of change that will benefit women, the businesses they work in and the communities they live in.  For further information click here. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/bristol-women-in-business-charter/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/bristol-women-in-business-charter/ Wed, 14 August 2024 16:16:05 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/unlocking-success-in-construction-projects-with-effective-communication/ Katy Bennett, Senior Account Director at Cavendish Consulting "During any form of construction or disruption to local communities, effective communication to those impacted is key – whether you’re a developer, contractor, or local authority. Quality stakeholder engagement can add value to all aspects of your project, including helping to meet your consent requirements, mitigating and managing risk, celebrating successes, establishing and protecting individual relationships with influential stakeholders, and preserving or improving the reputation of the developer or project as a whole. The purpose is ultimately to act as a ‘good neighbour’, to establish a long-term, positive working relationship with the community you are part of, in a time when construction activity is impacting most communities up and down the country, and at a greater rate than ever before. Importantly, the engagement opportunities arising from establishing solid basic principles to follow can also unlock value for communities impacted by the disruption. This can be in the form of social value, funding streams, or the delivery of valuable infrastructure for a community. We recently published a Construction Communications Toolkit, which provides principles to guide stakeholder engagement during construction activity. It is informed by decades of experience in best practice engagement methodology, with learnings from supporting some of the largest and most controversial construction projects through to completion. The kit establishes six core stakeholder engagement principles which Cavendish considers to be the foundations for a successful communications and engagement programme supporting any form of construction. Whilst there is not a “one size fits all” approach which can be applied across all work of this nature, establishing these cornerstones early in the project lifecycle can provide the necessary building blocks to grow into, ensuring the community has an opportunity to work with you during the construction period, and knows what’s happening, when and why, as well as what opportunities they have to derive benefits from the work. You are invited to d ownload the Toolkit  and build trust with your stakeholders.” Download the Toolkit. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/unlocking-success-in-construction-projects-with-effective-communication/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/unlocking-success-in-construction-projects-with-effective-communication/ Thu, 18 July 2024 11:20:11 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/midlands-branch-celebrates-its-student-awards-winners-2024/ Three students studying Architecture and Engineering based courses have been announced as the regional winners at the Women in Property Midlands Student Awards, sponsored by Segro.  The event, kindly hosted by Shoosmiths in Birmingham, provided employers in the property and construction sector with a platform to engage with some of the most promising undergraduates in the built environment sector. Zoe Baker , studying Meng Civil Engineering at the University of Warwick was described by the judges as “an extremely strong and impressive candidate, her presentation was faultless, a confident and ambitious applicant.” Annie Lattimore , studying BSc Architectural Technology at Nottingham Trent University , was described by the judges as “having great passion and articulation of her interest in architectural technology, she blew the judges away with her confidence and comfortable persona.” Grace Tunnicliffe studying BSc Architectural Technology and Practice at the University of Derby , was described by the judges as giving a “very mature architectural response to a challenging brief” and “being passionate with great integrity”. Congratulations to all three, who now go in front of the national judges, on 19 th September, followed that evening by the Best of the Best Awards Dinner , to be held at Claridge’s, when the national winner will be announced. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/midlands-branch-celebrates-its-student-awards-winners-2024/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/midlands-branch-celebrates-its-student-awards-winners-2024/ Thu, 27 June 2024 18:06:34 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-the-south-west-regional-winners-of-the-student-awards-2024/ Congratulations to Safa Al-Hamali , studying BSc Hons Architecture at the University of Bath and Freya Killilea , studying Meng Civil Engineering at the University of Exeter , who are the two South West Student Award Winners, going through to represent the region at the National Student Awards final in September  Safa was described by the judges as giving a “fantastic presentation”, “potential to have a big impact on the industry” and “there’s a very bright future ahead for Safa”, and Freya was described as a “focussed, high achiever”, “very professional, well-rounded interview” and “such an impressive individual”. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-the-south-west-regional-winners-of-the-student-awards-2024/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-the-south-west-regional-winners-of-the-student-awards-2024/ Thu, 27 June 2024 17:47:28 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/northern-scotland-announce-their-regional-student-awards-2024-winner/ Rachael Livingstone , an Architecture student at the University of Dundee has been announced as the regional winner at the Women in Property Northern Scotland Student Awards.  The event, kindly sponsored by Kier Group, and Stronachs LLP in Aberdeen, provided employers in the property and construction sector with a platform to engage with some of the most promising undergraduates in the built environment sector. Rachael’s exceptional qualities stood out to the judges, who described her as “an exceptional powerhouse, engaging, articulate and passionate, with an amazing skill to connect to people.”  Many congratulations Rachael! She now goes through to the National Final, on 19th September, which will be followed that evening by the  Best of the Best Awards Dinner at Claridge’s when the national winner will be announced https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/northern-scotland-announce-their-regional-student-awards-2024-winner/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/northern-scotland-announce-their-regional-student-awards-2024-winner/ Tue, 18 June 2024 17:07:25 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/congratulations-to-our-south-east-regional-student-awards-2024-winners/ Faith Egiadorah Omokhuale studying Meng Civil Engineering at the University of Surrey and Eva Wright , studying Urban Design Planning and Development at Oxford Brookes University will represent the South East in the Final of the National Student Awards , in September. The South East Awards were announced at a celebration event, kindly hosted by Mazars in London. Faith was described by the judges as “having incredible energy and focus”, “mature and thorough delivery, very confident” and “professional, friendly, hard-working”, while Eva was described as “very articulate, passionate and approachable”, “proactive and diligent”, and with an “holistic approach to design”. Congratulations! She now goes through to the National Final, on 19th September, which will be followed that evening by the  Best of the Best Awards Dinner at Claridge’s when the national winner will be announced https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/congratulations-to-our-south-east-regional-student-awards-2024-winners/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/congratulations-to-our-south-east-regional-student-awards-2024-winners/ Fri, 07 June 2024 17:34:41 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/the-women-in-property-app-prize-draw-we-have-a-winner/ Following a great response to the WiP App Prize Draw, we are pleased to announce the winner.  A digital lucky dip was carried out by WiP National Chair Jennifer Winyard on 3rd June 2024. The winner of the £100 John Lewis voucher is Sally Caveill at Wardell Armstrong in our South Wales Branch - congratulations to Sally and happy shopping! The Women in Property app is available for members to download.  You can use the member search function, view and book events, as well as change your profile details and renew your membership.   Click here  for download details. Already using the app? V3.0 is here! Release date 1 st May 2024 We have made further updates to streamline the in-app booking process and enhance other functionality. To enjoy these new and improved features, you need to take the following steps (previous versions of the App are no longer supported): visit the Apple App Store for IOS or Google Play for Android search for the 'Women in Property' app click on Update to install the new features As an added incentive, anyone who visits the Notifications feature (see below) can enter a prize draw to win £100 of John Lewis vouchers .  The closing date for entries is Friday 31st May 2024 .  So, if you haven’t already, we encourage you to give the App a try.    New features include: Member Search Improved membership database search facility allowing results to be filtered by Branch Member profile details now include contact information     Event Listings Improved formatting on event listings including external hyperlinks More event information including venue details and CPD Accreditation Notifications Keep up to date with the latest WiP news We hope you enjoy using the App and benefit from the improved functionality. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/the-women-in-property-app-prize-draw-we-have-a-winner/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/the-women-in-property-app-prize-draw-we-have-a-winner/ Tue, 04 June 2024 17:30:00 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/embrace-your-financial-wellbeing/ Taking control of your financial wellbeing is a positive step, but it is often an area that is neglected or set to one side, and with so much information available, it can feel hard to know where to begin. Lindsey Docherty, Financial Planner, at Independent Women* has pulled together some top tips for building the foundations of a strong financial plan. 1. Consider your goals and timescales Identifying your short-, medium- and long-term goals allows you to plan the steps you need to take to achieve them. Your goals could be anything from a home purchase through to early retirement, but it is important they are  specific  and  quantifiable  to help you to visualise the route to success. For  shorter term  objectives, search the market for competitive interest rates to provide opportunity for your money to grow, though it is important to be aware of any penalties for early access to fixed term products. The  long term is just as important as the short term. Would you like to invest?  Putting your money to work over a longer timeframe (such as 5 years, or more) provides more options for your money to grow, but it comes with risk as investments are not guaranteed, and values are subject to fluctuation in line with market performance. 2. Set a realistic budget A budget is an important way to build a picture of your income and outgoings. Accuracy and honesty are key when setting a budget, and there are many tools available online to help you understand yours. Make a list of your regular outgoings, prioritising your household bills and groceries; this should be considered your ‘ core ’ expenditure. Then, you can be realistic about how much you want to save. Savings should include shorter-term savings for emergencies, as well as longer term investments such as house funds and retirement planning. Finally, you are left with your discretionary expenditure, or your ‘fun fund’. You may wish to set some of this aside to pay for the large one-off expenses such as holidays, too. Top Tip – If you are reviewing your budget for the first time, look at your direct debits, too. Often, you will find better deals on the market, and you may even find some subscriptions which can be cancelled, saving you money in the long run. 3. Build your emergency fund An emergency fund is a pot of money that is easily accessible for you and your family, acting like a financial shock absorber for any short term ‘emergencies’ (think about the boiler breaking down, or an MOT failure). These often-unexpected events can have more severe consequences without a suitable emergency fund in place and can quickly put you on the back foot in terms of your financial wellbeing. There is no hard and fast rule on how big an emergency fund should be. It is important to remember that while having easily accessible funds is important, inflation can mean that excess cash held in the bank loses its ‘real value’ over time, so consider the most appropriate amount for you. Top Tip – If you are unsure how much you should have in an emergency fund, as a starting point we suggest considering your core outgoings, and ensuring you have funds available to meet 3 to 6 months expenditure. That way, if you lose your regular income, you will be able to continue paying your mortgage/rent, bills and more. You can then decide if you feel comfortable with this amount, or if you would like to retain slightly more. 4. Protect yourself for your future Financial protection is the foundation for any strong financial plan, helping you understand the impact if something were to go wrong, such as if you or your partner were unable to work, were to be diagnosed with a critical illness or pass away. Would you and your family have enough income to keep your goals on track, to repay any debts, and to maintain your standard of living? While you might already have some insurance in place, it should be regularly reviewed, particularly in light of any life events such as a change in job, a house move, or children. You should also ensure that you have up to date wills, powers of attorney and pension nominations, as the knock-on impact of not having these in place can be costly and time consuming, and often lead to a different outcome than you might have wished. Top Tip – Look at your employer benefits and check if there is an ability to increase your cover at a favourable rate. Be aware of what might happen to that protection should you leave your employer. What next? Gaining a better insight into your finances is something we can all achieve, but it is just the start! If you want to understand more about the core financial planning principles and how to take control of your financial wellbeing, join Independent Women at our Women in Property webinar series - ‘Harnessing your financial power' 1. How to grow and protect your wealth on Tuesday 11th June - more details 2. Planning your dream retirement on Tuesday 9th July - more details. 3. Protecting your legacy 17 September - more details 4. Making Sense of the Autumn Budget 5th November - more details *Independent Women is the UK’s first Independent Financial Adviser specialising in wealth management for women; we look at money through a female lens, understanding the unique challenges faced by women in managing their finances. Independent Women is a trading name of Forvis Mazars Financial Planning ltd. The information contained in this article does not constitute individual advice. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd will not accept any responsibility for decisions taken or not taken on the basis of the information presented. Always obtain independent, professional advice relevant to your own circumstances. Any reference to legislation and tax is based on Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd’s understanding of United Kingdom law and HM Revenue & Customs practice at the date of production. These may be subject to change in the future. Tax rates and reliefs may be altered. The value of tax reliefs to the investor depends on their financial circumstances. No guarantees are given regarding the effectiveness of any arrangements entered into on the basis of these comments. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Limited Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales No 3172233 with its registered office at 30 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AU. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Forvis Mazars Financial Planning Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Forvis Mazars LLP, the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/embrace-your-financial-wellbeing/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/embrace-your-financial-wellbeing/ Mon, 03 June 2024 13:32:56 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/architecture-students-take-top-prize-in-central-scotland-student-awards/ Phoebe Vendil (left) and Caitlin Griffiths are the winners in the Central Scotland Student Awards, kindly sponsored by Avison Young, BakerHicks and Tilbury Douglas.  Phoebe, studying MA Architecture at the University of Edinburgh , was described by the judges as “engaging during and after the presentation” and praised her “confidence, thoughts on key important topics and impressive volunteering”.  Caitlin studying BSc Hons Architectural Studies at the University of Strathclyde , was described as “having a good understanding of the brief” and giving “great story telling and great responses”.  The event was hosted alongside the branch’s annual Summer Drinks reception, by Gardiner & Theobald at Bonnie and Wild in Edinburgh.   Phoebe and Caitlin go on to represent the region at the National Final, on 19th September, which will be followed that evening by the  Best of the Best Awards Dinner  at Claridge’s when the national winner will be announced. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/architecture-students-take-top-prize-in-central-scotland-student-awards/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/architecture-students-take-top-prize-in-central-scotland-student-awards/ Fri, 24 May 2024 16:16:52 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-our-north-west-regional-winner-of-the-student-awards-2024/ Congratulations to Letitia Zhao , an Architecture student at Manchester School of Architecture , who has been announced as the regional winner at the Women in Property North West Student Awards, kindly hosted by Turner and Townsend. Letitia’s exceptional qualities stood out to the judges, who described her as being “a very intelligent, thoughtful, professional and impressive candidate”.  She spoke eloquently, and with authority, building rapport with the judges who said she was “very articulate, with clear delivery”. She now goes through to the National Final, on 19th September, which will be followed that evening by the Best of the Best Awards Dinner  at Claridge’s when the national winner will be announced. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-our-north-west-regional-winner-of-the-student-awards-2024/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/meet-our-north-west-regional-winner-of-the-student-awards-2024/ Tue, 21 May 2024 16:16:52 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/step-into-summer-2024-an-outdoor-challenge-changing-mindsets/ Ready to get those trainers on as we Step into Summer 2024?! This Team Challenge involves real legwork but on a virtual walking route, starting 21st June, until 5th July, so now is the time to gather your team. Last year 85 teams, members and non-members alike, of all genders took part, together walking a whopping 60,023 km! Let's beat that this year! And, sponsored by  Buro Happold ,  FulkersBaileyRussell  and  Stride Treglown , we'll raise awareness for two great charities,  Women in Sport  and  Smart Works Charity .  For details and to sign up - click here . https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/step-into-summer-2024-an-outdoor-challenge-changing-mindsets/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/step-into-summer-2024-an-outdoor-challenge-changing-mindsets/ Tue, 21 May 2024 16:04:42 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/may/01/the-women-in-property-members-only-app/ The Women in Property app is available for members to download.  You can use the member search function, view and book events, as well as change your profile details and renew your membership.   Click here  for download details. Already using the app? V3.0 is here! Release date 1 st May 2024 We have made further updates to streamline the in-app booking process and enhance other functionality. To enjoy these new and improved features, you need to take the following steps (previous versions of the App are no longer supported): visit the Apple App Store for IOS or Google Play for Android search for the 'Women in Property' app click on Update to install the new features As an added incentive, anyone who visits the Notifications feature (see below) can enter a prize draw to win £100 of John Lewis vouchers .  The closing date for entries is Friday 31st May 2024 .  So, if you haven’t already, we encourage you to give the App a try.    New features include: Member Search Improved membership database search facility allowing results to be filtered by Branch Member profile details now include contact information     Event Listings Improved formatting on event listings including external hyperlinks More event information including venue details and CPD Accreditation Notifications Keep up to date with the latest WiP news We hope you enjoy using the App and benefit from the improved functionality. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/may/01/the-women-in-property-members-only-app/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/may/01/the-women-in-property-members-only-app/ Wed, 01 May 2024 10:15:48 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/ Chithra Marsh is immediate past National Chair of Women in Property and director of Buttress Architects.  Here she looks back on the past 12 months to see how both roles developed and her learnings from them.  “As a director of a busy architecture practice, based in Manchester and Leeds, with projects spanning the UK, I am very accustomed to… excuse the cliché, living out of a suitcase and meeting many people. But my year as National Chair of WiP really ramped this up and enabled me to travel and talk with people, beyond the ‘standard’ architecture and property topics. My passion is, and always has been, social value and equity, diversity and inclusion and so it was during my tenure that I was able to bring these subjects to the fore, opening dialogues with people who care and were listening. The platform WiP gave me, meant my message was received far and wide, including audiences at our own events, UK Government officials and politicians, broadcasters and the many people who attended the conferences and panels where I was lucky enough to speak.  “My role at Buttress is centred around community, social value and creating places that work for communities and I’m currently working with the team on several projects, particularly in Cumbria. People are very much at the heart of everything, we go beyond the classically taught mechanics and rudiments of design and architecture – people, their culture and how they sit in their community was very much my theme in my role as National Chair for WiP. I’ve been able to take this ‘people’ message out to events, wider audiences and media interviews – and I do feel that I’ve set the people wheels in motion. “But the past year hasn’t all been about broadcasting my EDI and social value passions.  I’ve also been learning and embracing other cultures and going deeper to draw from my own cultural heritage. A lightbulb moment happened in Venice, during my time at the opening of the British Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia 2023.  I had participated as part of the Selection Committee for the British Council, and collaborated in the selection of the winning curatorial team that went on to be exhibited at the British Pavilion.  This allowed me to experience the exhibition which harnessed a deep awareness, an opportunity to refocus the lens and open the door not only much wider to other cultures – but ensure that there isn’t a door in the first place. It certainly influenced how I think about architecture and the influence of culture and community. It proves that there is great innovation embedded in all cultures and we should broaden our perspectives.  This was a crucial moment for me because more than ever I realised I had to dig further into other cultures and that there should never be a ‘one size fits’ all, when we explore communities.  “I also spent the year aiming my voice at the education sector.  I was very lucky, my father was an engineer, and I could see myself in the industry – but as always, we need to consider and get behind people who have backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the industry.  They need to see architects from all backgrounds for them to feel included.  My father encouraged me to sit with the architects in the practice he worked at, and I fell in love with the whole creative environment, it was an instant connection to this industry.  We need to question whether university curriculums strip people of their passions, their backgrounds, and do all they can to encourage them to bring their heritage into the industry – otherwise we will create an industry with a very repetitive culture – and this isn’t an inspiration bed for architecture.  “Over the last pivotal year as National Chair, I was also promoted to director at Buttress and understand that, now more than ever, I have the opportunity to encourage women into the industry. We all know we shouldn’t need to have these conversations in the 21st Century – but until we have positive representative, gender pay equality, and flexible work - there is still work to be done.  I feel that as I approach the later stage of my career, this is where I will continue to focus my energies and voice.” https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/ Mon, 08 April 2024 18:08:52 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/introducing-our-new-national-chair/ Jennifer Winyard, dual qualified Surveyor and Planner, is our new National Chair, 2024-2025. Jennifer, who is Senior Strategic Land & Planning Manager at Barratt Homes Yorkshire West, takes up the post for one year from 1 March. After joining Women in Property in 2007, Jennifer has been Yorkshire & North-East branch Chair, a Mentoring Ambassador and Student Awards Ambassador, leading our National Student Awards programme, which is now in its 18 th year.  She has also been re-elected to the RTPI’s General Assembly where members debate Planning policy and practice.  As an experienced mentor, Jennifer supports fellow professionals through their RTPI and RICS APCs, as well as on the WiP cross-discipline mentoring programme.  Jennifer said, “Encouraging girls to consider a career in property and construction has been a major focus for me, throughout my professional life. My lived experience of this industry highlights the fantastic scope it offers across all sectors. There is still more to do to encourage more people, particularly girls and young women, to make it their future too.  I want to help change mindsets and unlock the potential they offer. “Programmes in the sector, such as the work my own employer Barratt Homes is doing, and Women in Property’s school outreach, Student Awards and Mentoring programmes, which run across the UK, are an important part of ensuring that the new generation comes into property and construction.” David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, added: “Jennifer’s appointment as Chair of Women in Property reflects her determination to attract more women into the sector, and then to provide the mentorship that enables them to succeed across a wide variety of roles. She will bring boundless energy and insight to this new role, which will benefit the wider property and construction sector.” Outgoing National Chair, Chithra Marsh of Buttress Architects, will support Jennifer in her role, as will Emma Richman, Director of Operations at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, who becomes National Vice Chair on 1 March.  Emma, a qualified Architect and Building Surveyor, is also an Independent Non-Executive Director at First Choice Homes, Oldham .  In addition, the National Team is supported by Women in Property’s Board of Directors. https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/introducing-our-new-national-chair/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/introducing-our-new-national-chair/ Fri, 01 March 2024 09:00:00 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-survey-is-live/ Women In Property’s Building Balance in partnership with Gleeds and Buro Happold is LIVE .   Click here to take the survey. Building Balance is A Comprehensive Survey on Wellbeing, Careers and the effect of childcare in the industry, to identify the reality of the affordability and availability of childcare. Using the findings we will firstly, raise the awareness and significance of the issues and the impact this is having on businesses in the industry. Secondly, we want to make improvements for all, not only supporting those returning to work or those with families. By retaining our talented people we can create a diverse and inclusive culture that makes business sense and contribute to a thriving construction and property industry. The Building Balance survey is LIVE! To help us, we ask that you complete the survey and share the link to the survey on your social platforms This is your industry, you can help to shape and improve it for the next generations. #WIPBuildingBalance Survey closes 1 st February at 23.00. For more details please read our blog Women in Property’s Building Balance https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-survey-is-live/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-survey-is-live/ Thu, 11 January 2024 10:26:09 https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-a-comprehensive-survey-on-wellbeing-careers-and-the-effect-of-childcare-in-the-property-industry/ Pictured: Helen James, Gleeds Whilst the cost and availability of childcare is not a new issue and despite the 2023 spring budget improvement, many of us are still concerned particularly in the current economic climate. What is the reality and what overall improvements do we still need to make for everyone to enjoy a greater work-life and family balance? In the construction and property industry there has been a growing focus on the benefits of wellbeing, inclusion, fairness and diversity because we know: A diverse, fair and inclusive workforce increases productivity, is more creative and innovative and ultimately increases the bottom line. There is a skills shortage in the industry. Construction News reported in January 2023 that the industry has an 8% churn and a 25% increase in recruitment is required across all occupations to meet the 2027 aspirations of the construction industry. So let’s look at life and career progression. As we all move through life, we take on more responsibility at work and personally, we have more commitments, we have to pay the bills, we have to look after other people - family, children and friends.  We need to have our own hobbies and interests and downtime to be our best selves and all in a world where the construction industry demands a lot. In today’s world there is a lot of to juggle, prioritise and balance. And let’s not forget that everyone is different here. Starting a family and raising the next generation is tough. Some parents prefer not to return to work but some are faced with needing to work to pay the bills, particularly now with a cost-of-living crisis. And some people want to return to work and progress their career. Both face a challenge of balancing being the best mum, dad, carer and the best professional they can be. Yet, due to the cost of childcare some parents are having to decide whether they can afford for both parents to work. Others find themselves asking whether they can afford to have children at all. The annual Coram Family and Childcare, Childcare Survey 2023, identified “substantial price rises of 5.6%” at a time where the cost-of-living pressures are pushing people’s purse strings and meaning that “they cannot afford not to work, but childcare costs mean that they also cannot afford to work.” More so, with people not living near family, people having children later, the pensionable age increasing and people working longer, grandparents or other family members are not always a viable option. Neither are the casual arrangements with friends, family or neighbours since the regulation of childcare provision came in. Today there is a greater reliance on paid professional childcare, and experience suggests that the supply cannot meet the demand. Meaning that the decision of whether to return to work or whether both parents can work is not a decision, the reality is that it is not an option . Locally – I am based in the South West - I am hearing of waiting lists of 24 months. Personally, it took 12 months to add an additional day of childcare to the regular hours. All in all, the current status means that there is not the ability to change within a reasonable timescale and it limits people’s flexibility for working in an industry of changes and deadlines. Both issues are raised in the Randstad Gender Equality in the Workplace 2022 Report, where the high childcare costs and lack of flexible working arrangements were some of the reasons for women leaving the construction industry. Going back to my earlier points; retaining talented people makes business sense. As an industry we have to look at what we can do to retain these talented people. How can we find a balance? Women in Property South West, in partnership with the national organisation, Gleeds and Buro Happold are launching Building Balance, a Comprehensive Survey on Wellbeing, Careers and the effect of childcare in the industry to find out the true picture of the affordability and availability of childcare. Is this just an issue in the south west or is it a national issue? Although as a construction and property industry we cannot resolve childcare issues; we can: Raise the awareness of the significance of the issues and the impact this is having on businesses and the industry. Encourage businesses within our own sector to do their best to improve the situation. Secondly, what can we do to support people returning to work; and improve working people and career progression with a young family. These improvements are not isolated to people with families, life is complicated and if we can improve how and the way in which we retain our talented people we can create diverse and inclusive cultures that ultimately increase the bottom line and contribute to a thriving construction and property industry . Only with your input right now can we raise this issue and improve the industry.   The Building Balance survey goes live on 11 th January 2024 at 08.00. We are asking you to: Complete the survey Share this blog and the survey on your social platforms   The findings of the survey will be presented at a Women in Property Building Balance Panel Discussion Event in the spring. This will be hosted in Bristol and available virtually for a national audience. The key points and issues from the survey and the discussion will be presented in a paper. This is your industry; you can help to shape and improve it for the next generations.   References: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/25-recruitment-boost-needed-despite-drop-in-demand-citb-says-23-01-2023/ https://www.randstad.co.uk/about-us/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing/workplace-gender-equality/ https://www.coram.org.uk/resource/childcare-survey-2023/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-a-comprehensive-survey-on-wellbeing-careers-and-the-effect-of-childcare-in-the-property-industry/ https://www.womeninproperty.org.uk/blog/2024/women-in-property-s-building-balance-a-comprehensive-survey-on-wellbeing-careers-and-the-effect-of-childcare-in-the-property-industry/ Mon, 08 January 2024 13:22:48