The content of most women’s handbags is pretty standard. But you would be forgiven if a can of solvent didn’t immediately spring to mind. For Bridget Outtrim, it’s a staple.
“Rusty old padlocks on a winter’s day are the worst part of the job for me. That’s why I keep a can of WD-40 in my handbag – that and baby wipes,” she says.
Outtrim is an industrial & logistics director at Savills and one of the relatively few women working in the sheds sector.
The under-representation of women in commercial real estate is widely publicised. But in the industrial sector the issue appears to be worse.
Theories as to why this is the case are fairly consistent.
“The industrial sector is unglamourous, masculine, gritty and dirty”, says Outtrim. “It’s not an environment where women choose to be.”
Melinda Cross, a director in JLL’s industrial and logistics team – whose companions on the road are size four safety boots and toilet roll – agrees.
“The sector has the image of being very male dominated and not very glamorous. You get cold in winter and dirty while opening gates, loading doors and climbing over concrete blocks, which I have often had to do.”
Giving it further thought, she adds: “I think we are sometimes deemed as the poorer sector compared to office and retail sectors, as sheds are seen as not so exciting. However, they are the way forward as the shed market, particularly in the Western corridor, is really now pushing along at great speed and becoming more sophisticated.”
Perceived disparity
There are no records to quantify the number of male and female agents in each real estate sector, so the gender disparity is perceived.
Indeed, Sally Bruer, head of industrial research at Gerald Eve, is certain from her experience that at the research level there is no disparity at all, suggesting the gender gap in industrial is limited to agency.
Data from the RICS shows that of the 21,000 surveyors who qualified in the UK and Ireland in October 2015, just 18.2% were female – up 0.4% on the previous year.
And the imbalance in industrial and logistics is stark when looking at the membership of the Industrial Agents Society, with just 68 out of its 975 members being women. Since it was formed in 1976 its only female chairman has been Ruth Tytherley, a director in CBRE’s national logistics and industrial agency team, who held the yearly post in 2011.
So who is responsible for changing the status quo?
Universities generally acknowledge the gap, but they don’t see it as their responsibility to advocate individual sectors to female students.
Hannah Furness, senior lecturer in property development, investment and finance at Northumbria University, says: “Our role is to cover a comprehensive syllabus, plus all graduate and placement opportunities in all sectors without concession to gender.”
Oxford Brookes University is involved in diversity initiatives to encourage a wider student intake, but according to Nick French, professor in real estate, they rarely advise on sector at all, noting that it is at the APC stage that most decisions about the sector students choose to work in are made.
At JLL, Andy Harding, lead director in the industrial and logistics team, is being proactive about recruiting more female shed shifters, recently employing one of the business’s secretarial temps and sponsoring her degree costs and RICS qualifications.
“I would like to see more females in the sector and we have been actively seeking to recruit more females both externally and from other parts of the JLL business,” he says. “But it is the least glamorous sector, so a harder sell.”
The firm’s latest recruit will no doubt have plenty to learn from his colleague, Cross, who warns that pursuing a career in the sector means you need to give as good as you get on the banter front.
“Old school clients and agents may still call you ‘love’, and ‘darling’ or forget your name constantly so you have to be patient and tolerant,” she says.
It is a familiar attitude among all the women bucking the trend to make a living in sheds.
Tytherley cites the “down to earth attitude of the characters, the innovation and creativity and a sector where people are committed and they graft”.
Unsurprisingly, Richard Sullivan, director and national head of industrial and logistics at Savills, agrees.
“It’s a sector where we are straightforward in our approach, there are no airs and graces, but there is a good rapport between the agents, good camaraderie,” he says.
The only trade off appears to be carrying WD-40 in your handbag.
Closing the gap
“The sheds sector is the least glamorous sector of the commercial property industry so it’s a harder sell to females.
“And there is the perception of the market being a bit more rough and ready, which perhaps isn’t every female surveyor’s ideal.
“But we are very focused on growing the group from within JLL where possible. Graduates are keen to do a stint, which often leads to a permanent position. Our recent employment of a female secretarial temp shows our commitment to encouraging more females into our business.
“It’s interesting too that those female agents who start in sheds largely remain in the sector with many senior roles.”
Andy Harding, lead director, industrial and logistics, JLL
“The industrial sector hasn’t historically been an area that is highlighted academically. Coursework used to focus on the more tactile and obvious sectors such as retail, offices and residential.
“The industrial sector was historically more about manufacturing plants that were bespoke to the occupier, and so not generic enough to use as examples in studying the principles of property. But the reality of the sector today is that there are fewer manufacturing plants, and it’s primarily about distribution depots and logistics networks.
“Universities are catching up, particularly with the paradigm shift in how we shop and the huge influence of the internet, which has driven so much change in sheds.
“I really regret having to add though, that I fear that some females might be put off by the alpha male reputation that may precede the sheds sector. Conversely, and happily, this may also inspire others to challenge it.”
Ruth Tytherley, director, national logistics and industrial agency, CBRE
“On the research and analysis side of the property market, there are actually quite a number of women actively involved in the industrial sector, both in consultancies and at clients. Some, like myself, work as sector specialists and others consider industrial as one of a number of property types.
“As a result, I don’t actually think that there are necessarily fewer women involved in industrial property research and analysis than in other property sectors: the skills and attributes required to do the job in industrial are the same as in other sectors. And particularly as industrial has become so attractive as an investment asset class, there is so much interest in the sector that there is significant demand for more people to be digging deeper and providing good analysis.”
Sally Bruer, partner – head of industrial research, Gerald Eve
“My advice to women considering a career in industrial would be to focus on doing a good job and earn respect as an agent. It’s not necessary to play the female card; just enjoy building your career in a sector that you love.
“I worked in both office and industrial agency as a sandwich year-out student, for Henry Butcher, a heavy industrial specialist. I found that I preferred being outside more and I preferred shed agents to deal with. They are friendly, unpretentious and usually very easy to deal with on negotiations. Clients are much friendlier, too.”
Melinda Cross, director, industrial and logistics, JLL UK
rebecca.kent@estatesgazette.com
