Personal security tech has enabled more female agents to get out into the field, says Savills director

An estate agent has claimed that technology has helped make women employees within the industry safer when doing viewings and appraisals and freed them up to do non-desk jobs. The comments have been made by Norfolk agent Natalie Howlett-Clarke who works from the Norwich branch of Savills, where she is the firm’s joint Head of Sales. She says that “as with many industries, traditionally the senior positions have been held by men and, particularly after the Suzy Lamplugh case there was a long-held perception that estate agency work carried a high degree of risk for women and therefore [their roles] tended to be more office-based”. Starting at Savills in 2005, she says technology has transformed how staff both male and female can be protected when out and about at viewings, and security risk reduced to an acceptable level. Top jobs Howlett-Clarke says she hopes this will encourage more women to gain broader experience within the industry and encourage more of them into top jobs. “Looking ahead, I think better female representation in senior positions will undoubtedly help girls and women to consider this a rewarding career,” she adds, saying that growing up with Margaret Thatcher as the Prime Minister helped…