Opportunities for women in Scotland’s property industry have never been more exciting, whether in construction, engineering, or professional support services. As the sector continues to evolve, one of its key missions for 2025 is to ensure those opportunities grow even further.
Louise Norris, Partner in Commercial Property, looks at the progress being made by women in the industry and why it’s so important to keep driving change.
Attending the recent Women in Property conference in Edinburgh was a real eye-opener for me. Hearing from so many inspiring women about their careers, the challenges they’ve faced, and the opportunities ahead reminded me just how much progress we’ve made—and how much further we still have to go.
Some of the most inspiring women working in the property sector shared stories about their careers so far and insight on how positive change for women working in the sector can continue to be made.
And that’s not just directly in construction, but in all aspects of the property business - whether that be for commercial property lawyers like me, surveyors, architects or other professionals.
While I’m fortunate to work for a firm which recognises expertise rather than gender, I’m also aware that a glass ceiling still exists for many women in property.
The good news, though, is that the ceiling is getting higher all of the time. Progress is being made across the profession, and while much remains to be done, I’m optimistic that this ceiling can still be smashed.
Thanks to organisations including Women in Property, Women in Planning and Women in Construction, the property and construction industry is evolving to become more balanced, diverse and inclusive.
Invaluable support is there not only to those who aspire for a career in the built environment, but those facing mid-career challenges - potentially after taking time to have a family - and those who are making their presence felt positively in boardrooms.
The conference - and discussions since - have reinforced to me the importance of providing the support women need so that the balance between work and family life can be struck.
It’s crucial that the many opportunities across Scotland’s built environment are not lost for women, and that they are made more visible - whether on-site or behind the scenes working on the fine detail of project agreements and transactions, as I do.
I heard of a brilliant project recently where a group of schoolchildren near Glasgow were given a challenge to “build” a primary school. They had to design, cost and plan construction of the entire project.
It was an initiative which showed girls, as well as boys, the range of careers which can be pursued in the sector, opening a few eyes along the way.
Schemes like this are invaluable if we are to equip the next generation with the skills needed not only to create carbon-efficient buildings of the future, but to make certain they are managed and traded effectively.
So too are the efforts of Women in Property to ensure that more women who start careers in the industry feel as though they can stay in it as their family circumstances evolve. Not least because they provide that next layer of inspiration - female colleagues and mentors who women can look up to and see what can be achieved professionally.
Thankfully, the world of the female property professional is far more progressive than it once was. I’ve seen it evolve first-hand. But, if true progress is to be achieved and the industry is to reap the rewards of greater inclusivity and life experiences, it will need to progress further.
Achieving this will not just improve personal prospects, but the national economy too.
15 January 2025. First published in Scottish Construction Now.
