Press Release

National Inclusion Week: RICS Paves the Way for a More Inclusive Built Environment

25 September 2023

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is proud to be supporting ‘National Inclusion Week 2023’, which celebrates inclusion and employers taking proactive steps to secure more inclusive workplaces.

RICS has chosen this week to showcase the continuous work going on behind the scenes in a bid to actively shape a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future for the built environment sector.

The RICS DEI team has been working on a comprehensive, robust and measurable DEI strategy which includes plans for enhanced data collection and analysis, network building and collaboration, and greater guidance and insight sharing amongst built environment stakeholders including RICS members.

In the last twelve months, the team has successfully hosted a number of internal and external DEI events, including International Women’s Day in March, the Association of Muslim Surveyors launch event at RICS London HQ in May, and a collaborative ‘Pride in the Built Environment’ event in June.

The first ‘Advancing Racial Equity in the Built Environment’ event was also held in September, where inspiring speakers shared their experiences and discussed the challenges with racial equity in the industry and what we must do to drive meaningful progress.

Upcoming events include a webinar on ‘shaping a more inclusive built environment sector’ on the 27^th September, which can be booked here.

In July, RICS released its flagship ‘women in surveying report’, which analysed the results of the first survey of the same name, launched in June 2022. The aim of the survey is to share insight from women on what barriers exist to career progression and longevity so organisations can reflect on their current behaviours and policies.

In June, the survey was sent out to members again, with the aim of it becoming an annual event.

Looking forward to the next few months, the team have been working to support compliance with the creation of 'Rule 4' of the RICS code of conduct, which relates to diversity, inclusion and respect.

Speaking about the project, RICS Director of Professional Standards, Christine O’Rourke, commented:

“We are working with RICS members to develop a comprehensive guide to DEI, providing advice and support for firms to encourage diversity and inclusion, which is a requirement of our Rules of Conduct.

“We hope this will be a big step forward in inspiring our members to help make a real difference to the industry”.

“This advice will be published on rics.org early next year.”

RICS Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Sybil Taunton, said:

“While we have delivered successful events and campaigns over the last twelve months, we have also done a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to lay the foundation for a more meaningful and impactful strategy moving forward, which also includes a big focus on our processes and practices both internally and externally.”

“Our biggest asset is going to be our partnerships and collaborations across the built environment, which includes the 45-point action plan we have committed to with our professional body partners.

"We will see stronger and lasting change by working together to improve the industry and not just our own individual organisations.”

-ENDS-

About RICS

We are RICS. Everything we do is designed to effect positive change in the built and natural environments. Through our respected global standards, leading professional progression and our trusted data and insight, we promote and enforce the highest professional standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.

Our work with others provides a foundation for confident markets, pioneers better places to live and work and is a force for positive social impact.

For more information:

Kate King

kking@rics.org

Kris Hicks

khicks@rics.org

press@rics.org

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