The Westminster Property Association has teamed up with the Young Westminster Foundation to help young people from underrepresented groups kick-start their careers in property.
The body, which represents more than 240 leading real estate developers, investors and advisers, has committed £255,000 to help fund the partnership’s Mastering My Future employability scheme over the next three years.
Investors in the scheme include WPA members BEAM, Gerald Eve, GPE, the Howard de Walden Estate, Landsec, the Pollen Estate, Shaftesbury Capital and Soho Estates. The investment was topped up by core WPA funds.
The scheme will teach 14- to 18-year-olds about the planning and development process, and will cover investment, social value, sustainability, technology and communications. Social enterprise 2-3 Degrees will lead the scheme, with volunteers from leading real estate organisations.
Each year over the course of three years, the scheme plans to reach more than 500 young people in schools, introduce 80 young people to employers via activity-based workshops and workplace visits, deliver 14 workshops during the school holidays and hold two ‘masterclass’ sessions to help young people develop interview confidence and CV-writing skills.
Marcus Geddes, chair of WPA and managing director of workplace at Landsec, said: “Our members have an important role in helping to support economic and social prosperity across the city, which despite its economics might contain some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.
“Attracting local people from all backgrounds into the property sector brings new ideas and perspectives and helps create inclusive places.”
Helen Mann, chief executive of the Young Westminster Foundation, said: “We know that being able to meet professionals face-to-face, visit their workplace and gain some real work experience can be transformational for young people and give them the confidence they need to take their first step on the career ladder.”
Adam Hug, councillor and leader of Westminster City Council, said: “The property industry is a major investor and employer across Westminster, and it is vital that young people growing up in the city have a chance to benefit from that.”
The scheme forms part of the WPA’s commitment to provide a more diverse and equitable landscape for the borough’s youth, and forms part of the council’s social mobility drive.
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