Two women from the Bristol office of global real estate services provider Colliers International have been selected to take part in a new programme designed for future leaders.
Associate directors Amy Brooksbank and Gemma Daly-Gunn are among 13 senior surveyors and associate directors from around the UK who will be participating in the year-long Real Estate And Leadership (REAL) scheme, aimed at developing leadership skills specifically for clients, projects and people.
REAL is part of Colliers International’s Balance in Business programme which seeks to address diversity and inclusion within the organisation.
The programme has been designed by the UK talent & development team based on research which identifies how successful women have achieved promotion and business recognition. It will also enable the group to build their network within the business and the wider real estate sector
Amy works in Colliers’ alternative markets division with a primary focus on the holiday and home parks sector while Gemma is part of the valuation & advisory services team undertaking commercial valuations across a range of sectors.
Colliers International head of South West and South Wales Jo Edwards, the first woman to lead one of the company’s ‘big six’ UK city offices, said: “This is important for our business; by having a more diverse team we are more effective and creative in finding solutions for our clients, and in offering them the high-level advice they seek from us.”
Colliers International UK HR director Lydia Ings said the REAL scheme would provide support in developing leadership skills.
“We’ve launched with an all-female cohort, tailoring the programme as we know that the experience of women achieving senior positions is different to that of their male counterparts and we want to support our participants in harnessing their strengths,” she said.
Colliers International UK chief operating officer Kate Morgan added: “We know that gender-specific initiatives can be an emotive subject, but in order to bring balance to our business and boardrooms in the sector it’s important, for us and the industry, to directly tackle the blockers that women face within themselves, in their careers and within in the workplace.”
The REAL programme also incorporates participation in national awareness days and it was launched in conjunction with the company’s International Women’s Day panel discussion at its London head office.
An all-female line up of client representatives discussed challenges for women in the real estate sector and how the industry is working to become more equal and inclusive.
More than 150 people attended the discussion, which was hosted by Kate Morgan and EMEA head of project management Sam Addison.
Pictured, from left: Gemma Daly-Gunn, Jo Edwards and Amy Brooksbank
