Nicole Kruger, an associate director in the health care team at property agency Avison Young’s Bristol office, has become a member of the Bristol Property Inclusion Commission, the body on a mission to widen representation in the sector.
The Commission supports the implementation of the Bristol Property Inclusion Charter, which was launched just over two years ago by city-based lawyer by Karl Brown to drive diversity and inclusion in the industry.
The Charter – the UK’s first city-wide property industry initiative of its kind – and Commission were started after research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed just 3% of those working in the property sector came from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
Karl, a commercial property partner at national law firm Clarke Willmott and Commission, said: “I am delighted that the Bristol Property Inclusion Commission continues to expand with the very welcome addition of Nicole as its latest member.
“It is important that there is a wide property industry representation on the Commission to ensure that our goal of boosting diversity and inclusion extends to all parts of the Bristol property industry.
“It is also pleasing that the number of signatories to the Charter continues to grow at a good rate.”
Some 63 businesses and organisations have now signed the Charter, including Bristol City Council, City of Bristol College, Avison Young, YTL, Galliard Homes, Brighter Places, Grainger, Elim Housing and the Bristol office of F + G.
Nicole, pictured, said she was delighted to join the Commission as a committee member.
“I think the property industry has a reputation as being an industry easily accessible for and predominately white men from affluent backgrounds while people from lower social economic and more diverse backgrounds often face barriers into the industry,” she added.
“I hope by joining the committee I can help highlight that there are opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background, to benefit from our industry.
“I think as an industry we need to start showing that we have realised the need for change.”
Other Commission members are Jamie Siggers (Campbell Reith), Leticia Mandra (Women in Planning), Karle Burford (AHR), Katie Stamper (Wise Living), Joe Constant (Property Options), David Dibble (City of Bristol College) and Deborah Bryant-Pearson (Colliers).
