Having been in the real estate industry for over thirty years, I know that it has made real progress over that time in terms of the diversity of talent working inside it. However, there is still progress to be made, particularly in easing access for parts of society that are currently under-represented or who may not even consider real estate as an option, and also in giving the industry access to a wider talent pool from diverse educational and social backgrounds.
This is something on which the FutureGen Committee, ESG Committee and Management Committees are actively engaged. In previous roles I have been involved in outreach to schools and in mentoring university students and I know that member firms and individuals are also involved in such work. As well as our own activities in this area, AREF will be partnering with other organisations such as Real Estate Balance and Investment20/20.
Investment20/20 is a multi award-winning talent programme for the investment management industry. They have an extensive sector approach to schools and university outreach and have supported over 1,600 young people start their careers through the Trainee Programme across 50 partner companies. 75% Of trainees are offered a permanent position at the end of the 12 month traineeship.
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