Women build on industry’s future
Never before in the built environment has there been three women holding presidential positions at three major industry bodies. But this year the RICS is presided over by Louise Brooke-Smith, RIBA by Jane Duncan and the RTPI by Janet Askew.
Networking group Women in Planning (@womeninplanning) brought the three presidents together to discuss how women are taking leadership roles in the built environment.
The evening began with some stark figures. In the UK, membership by women in the three bodies was massively below that of men. The RTPI had the best female clout with 35% of its membership, RIBA had 17% and the RICS just 13%. But the women all agreed that times were changing.
Brooke-Smith said that while she may have been the first female president in the history of the RICS, she would not be the last. In fact, in 2017 EY partner Amanda Clack will become the second woman to lead the surveying body. And while female membership has grown from 2% 30 years ago to today’s double-digit figure, equilibrium is still some way away.
The women handed out advice and mantras to those who attended the Women in Planning event at Colliers International’s 50 George Street, W1, headquarters on 31 March. They called for women to be more confident in their abilities, to demand parity of pay, to seize every opportunity and to refuse to accept barriers.
The overriding message, however, was that the quest for diversity was not about “a fight for women”, it was “a fight for our industry”.
Model shepherds in City sculpture trail
World-renowned eye candy David Gandy graced Land Securities’ One New Change, EC4, recently to launch a Shaun the Sheep sculpture trail.
The model has designed one of 50 of the 5ft figures scattered across the City. His besuited woolly, which bears the moniker “Fine & Gandy”, takes pride of place at the retail and office scheme.
The public trail piggybacks the recently launched Aardman Animations film Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, and will remain in London until 25 May, before moving to Bristol from 6 July to 31 August.
The sheep will be auctioned in the autumn to raise money for Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Foundation.
Fosh finishes ultra challenge
A year of grit and determination has paid off for auctioneer Paul Fosh, who has completed the 350-mile Likeys 6633 ultra marathon in the Canadian Arctic.
Fosh was one of just eight to finish the endurance race from 29 entrants. Each runner was required to pull a sled containing all their supplies for the eight-day challenge in temperatures of -30ºC.
The 48-year-old owner of his eponymous auction firm in Newport set off on 15 March and now joins an elite band of competitors to have finished the race (only 19 over seven races), which crosses the line of the Arctic Circle and continues on the banks of the of the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk, Canada.
Fosh’s training regime included acclimatising in an industrial freezer in a pasty shop in his home town of Monmouth.
To help Fosh reach his £15,000 target for Macmillan Cancer Support visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/paulfosh
Quarterly quiz success
More than 130 property people and their friends gave their general knowledge a workout at a quiz night in aid of the Josh Carrick Foundation.
The evening, held at the Phoenix pub on Cavendish Square, W1, on 26 March, was organised and compered by Savills’ marketing director Steve Carrick.
The team Mind Blanks, from the firm Bettagift, took first place, leaving with three magnums of Grand Cru, beer and chocolates.
Around £1,400 from the event was donated, adding to the £250,000 raised by the foundation, which supports research into testicular cancer in the UK, since 2012.
Calendar of events
Oxford Brookes Annual Real Estate and Construction Ball
When: 24 April
Where: Randolph Hotel, Oxford
What: More than 200 property students at one of the UK’s leading universities will bring their networking skills to bear at this popular event. The organisers, a committee of enterprising students, are looking for further industry support to complement CBRE’s headline sponsorship. Supported by Estates Gazette, the ball presents a chance for brand exposure to property’s next generation in exchange for financial support or donated raffle prizes. All funds raised will support the Mark Evison Foundation. The charity is named after a former student who died on military duty in Afghanistan.
Contact Annabel Magnay 0772 200 8841 or e-mail annabelmagnay@gmail.com
.
Bristol Focus Reception
When: 24 April
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Broad Quay
What: Make a worthwhile dash away from your desk to speak to the EG team, help shape the editorial content of the upcoming Bristol Focus feature and find out who wins the most active agent and dealmaker competitions. You can also mingle with industry peers.
www.estatesgazette.com/focus-regional-receptions
.
ULI General Election Briefing
When: 1 May
Where: BDO,
55 Baker Street, W1
What: The Urban Land Institute investigates how the potential outcome of the general election will affect property. Nick Keable, chief executive of Development Intelligence, will examine issues including localism and the National Planning Policy Framework, the impact of the Scottish referendum, the rise of UKIP and what the future holds for the eurozone.
www.uk.uli.org
.
Carter Jonas Yorkshire Pedathlon
When: 8 May
Where: Ripley Castle, Harrogate, Yorkshire
What: Spring promises breathtaking scenes on this sportive traversing the Yorkshire countryside. Rally your colleagues and friends to take on one of three distances – 40, 70 or 90 miles – with food stations providing energy-packed local produce. The ride starts and finishes at Ripley Castle and Yorkshire cycling legend Brian Robinson is making a guest appearance. Help raise £20,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance
and LandAid.
.
The Ball
When: 2 October
Where: Shoreditch Town Hall, EC1
What: Clear your diaries for The Ball. The night will be a veritable mélange of dinner, dancing and other delights, raising money for Maggie’s and the Museum of Architecture. This year organisers are asking guests to get creative with hats to be worn on the night.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities and tickets visit www.thearchitectsball.com
