RICS reveals measures to support black professionals

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is launching a series of initiatives that it hopes will give greater support to black industry professionals. RICS executive director Richard Collins said the measures come after the institute heard of black members’ experiences that ran “counter to the values of fairness and merit-based equality of opportunity” that it wants to uphold. “We heard about professionals arriving for meetings to be met with comments about their ethnicity rather than about their professional abilities,” Collins said. “We heard a strong and consistent view of less access to mentoring, influential networks and high-profile projects than white colleagues. We heard about glass ceilings on progress and a unanimous view that all felt they were rewarded less than their white colleagues, particularly when it came to bonuses.” RICS is now working with Ayesha Ofori, of the Black Property Network, and Bola Abisogun, of DiverseCity Surveyors, on a series of initiatives including setting up a panel of black professionals to lead panels and seminars; conducting deeper research into the ethnicity pay gap; and launching a reverse mentoring programme for industry leaders. Abisogun welcomed RICS’ initiatives, saying it has “willingly stepped up to the plate in an attempt become a more inclusive, diverse and representative professional body with a truly global mandate”. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette