Leading property consultancy CBRE recently hosted its very first Scottish Women’s Network event at the University of Glasgow. The CBRE Women’s Network is a ground-breaking initiative to help support and develop women in the commercial property arena.
The Network hosts regular networking events in London and other regional areas, targeting CBRE’s female clients with a variety of talks and seminars. The first event in Scotland was held last week when Ann Allen, director of estates and buildings at the University of Glasgow, spoke about her career and experiences, as well as her work as a trustee for the Ethical Property Foundation.
Virginia Beckett, director, Capital Markets, CBRE, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Ann Allen to be our very first speaker in Scotland and it was a real pleasure to hear about her career to date within the industry. Ann is the perfect role model for the Network, having not only carved out a highly successful career for herself within the industry but also giving something back by supporting the Ethical Property Foundation, an endeavour which she is clearly very proud of.”
Focusing on three key areas; recruitment and retention, networking and professional development and community spirit and philanthropy; the CBRE Women’s Network aims to support skills development and aid women’s success both within the company and in the real estate industry as a whole.
Within CBRE, the Network has already made great progress in terms of improving family friendly policies such as maternity agreements with paternity leave, flexible working and adoption leave all on the radar for review.
A range of philanthropic initiatives created via the Women’s Network foster community spirit within the company and this year the Network is supporting Shooting Star CHASE Children’s Hospice and Refuge as well as Dress for Success, a charity that helps disadvantaged women to secure employment.
Virginia Beckett added: “There is such a wealth of female talent within what has historically been considered a very male dominated industry and at CBRE we are dedicated to attracting and developing those candidates, for the benefit of both the company and the commercial property industry in general.
“By looking at our own policies and ways of working, as well as giving something back to the community and offering professional development talks, events and seminars for our female colleagues and clients, we have been able to create a brilliant network that can really make a difference and support women in real estate.”
