Employers in the North West urged to recruit and support diverse workforce
BY 2020 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predicts that a
third of the working age population will be over 50. With this in mind, the RICS
(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) says North West employers who recruit
and support a diverse workforce; with measures to help parents return to work -
will gain a competitive edge and a wider pool of talent.
The RICS; a professional body which sets standards in the land, property and
construction sectors; says on top of our ageing workforce, the region's
property industry is also facing a skills shortage and the lack of qualified
candidates is causing many North West based firms to have problems recruiting.
The organisation says employers can improve such recruitment issues by hiring a
diverse workforce and ensuring staff receive regular training and opportunities
to upskill.
Richard Schofield, 65, Managing Director at Rider Hunt Management Services and
Chairman of the Rider Hunt UK Group said:- "No matter what your age,
ethnicity, religion or gender; there should be no barriers to anyone's
aspirations. We must attract and retain young talent, but we must not
forget about those with years of experience, including parents who took a career
break to look after their children. Their invaluable knowledge and expertise can
help address any skills shortages by encouraging young professionals through
training and mentoring initiatives."
The RICS believes that one of the reasons it has so few female members (15%) is
that women struggle to get back in to the industry at the same professional
level they left to have a child, unless they return to work within a year. The
organisation says firms that aren't willing to offer flexible working are
leaving some parents with no alternative but to leave the industry.
Chartered building surveyor, Rebecca Hailey of JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) is a mum
of a 2 year old little boy. She returned to her role as Associate Director -
Project & Development Services after 13 months. "Where women opt to take a
career break, it is essential that they can re-enter the workplace at the
appropriate level. There is also a culture that if you are not seen to be at
your desk, then you are not doing your job. This attitude needs to change. My
employer is supportive of flexible working, but I know this isn't the case for
many working parents, which is why they may struggle to go back to work.
The property industry in the North West changes so quickly, so we constantly
have to develop our skills to adapt to the changing market. Parents, who return
to the industry after having a number of years off, may find it particularly
hard adapting. The same can be said of older professionals who return to the
industry after being out of work for years. Employers need to ensure that any
such staff has access to the relevant training and development opportunities to
refresh and improve their skill set."
47,000 of RICS' qualified members (chartered surveyors) are over 50 years old
and of this percentage, 94% are male, with the average age of a chartered
surveyor being 53.
RICS encourages older members to continue their careers, as experience is highly
revered and rewarded. It's not unknown for chartered surveyors to work beyond
their retirement age as they enjoy keeping up with the developing world and in
touch with others of a like mind.
The organisation has even launched a Senior Professional Route (SPR) to
membership, to help encourage greater diversity and recognise the career
achievements of those operating at a senior level within an organisation.
Chartered urban land economist and town planner, Louise Brooke-Smith, is the
first female President of RICS in the organisation's 147 year history. She
said:- "Our industry has typically lagged behind others in terms of making
the most of a diverse workforce, but we are now driving change to ensure we
attract and retain the very best talent for the future."
