WCCS unveils real estate bursaries scheme

The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors (WCCS) has launched a programme of real estate bursaries to help students from less advantaged and non-traditional backgrounds enter the property industry.

The Chartered Surveyors’ Bursaries is run in partnership with Pathways to Property.

According to the WCCS, the aim of the scheme is to create a diverse and inclusive property industry by giving financial support and guidance to students.

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It will provide the means for chosen students to study for a real estate degree whose personal circumstances would have meant that they are unable to attend university.

Students who are awarded a Chartered Surveyors’ Bursary will each be supported by a property industry champion’, who will pay £10,000-a-year for three years to cover a student’s university living expenses.

Additionally, they will offer ongoing mentoring throughout their degree as they enter the workplace.

The first three ‘Champions’ to commit to funding bursaries are international real estate consultancy Hollis, pan-European investor and asset manager M7 Real Estate, and private property investor and developer Dunmoore Group.

The scheme was trialled last year, with the WCCS committing £150,000 to fund five students through their degrees.

The WCCS aims to sign up at least eight property businesses from across the sector to become ‘Champions’ and fund a further eight university places commencing in September 2021.

Ken Morgan, master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, said: “Talent is evenly spread across society, but opportunity is not – an issue that has only increased for many young people through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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.

“We are extremely excited at the progress that our first cohort of students is already making and would like to thank Hollis, M7 Real Estate and Dunmoore for becoming the first of hopefully many Champions of the Chartered Surveyors’ Bursaries.”

Paddy Allen, chair of Pathways to Property, added: “This partnership is a fantastic example of allies coming together to make real change in the industry and widening access to the sector through multiple different avenues.

“We are immensely proud of partnering with WCCS to further progress our collective aim of increasing representation across the sector and giving talented young people the support they need to succeed.”