A project aimed at helping talented students from under-represented backgrounds get into the property industry has been given a £90,000 boost by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The Surveyors Student Bursary Programme, set up by the Worshipful Company of Surveyors (WCCS) in 2019, has been a resounding success – raising more than £1 million from over 30 companies.

The RICS sponsorship will fund three students, paying £10,000 a year for three years, covering their university living expenses.

According to the RICS 2022 Insight Report, just 18% of RICS members are women. Meanwhile, only 27% of property professionals are from lower socio-economic backgrounds, while just 6% of construction workers are from black, Asian, or other minority ethnic backgrounds.

‘Still so much work to do’

Aside from financial help, a bursary sponsor also provides advice and training for CVs, job applications, and pastoral support both at university and once they start work. Students attend courses at the 57 UK educational institutions accredited by RICS.

“There is still so much work to do to make the built environment a genuinely inclusive industry,” said RICS President Tina Paillet. “RICS is making critical contributions to support change, and this initial commitment to fund the WCCS Bursary Programme represents a vital part of this ongoing project.

“I’d like to thank WCCS for allowing RICS to contribute to this excellent programme. It is no small feat to bring together so many organisations and raise over £1 million.”

Simon Camamile, Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, said: “Talent is evenly spread across society, but opportunity is not.

“The Chartered Surveyors’ Bursaries represent an opportunity to really make a difference, not only to the lives of gifted students and their families, but also to support the future health of the property industry as a whole.”