A NEW bursary programme is offering up to £180,000 for black and minority ethnic students to study at university to build careers in the property industry.

The Chancerygate Foundation made the announcement this week to give young people the chance to study at London South Bank University (LSBU) as the first step into the sector.

The bursary will support the student an RICS-accredited chartered surveying courses at LSBU over their three-year course from October 2021.

The programme will support 6 students with £10,000 a year for their living expenses in LSBU courses which lead to Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation. 

With only 1.6% of RICS professionals in the UK, the programme supports LSBU’s work with the Bridge Group on increasing diversity in the UK’s property industry. 

The not-for-profit Chancerygate Foundation was established in 2020 to create an inclusive and diverse UK real estate sector where people from disadvantaged black and minority ethnic backgrounds can succeed.

The Chancerygate Foundation offers bursaries to qualifying students, allowing them to access RICS-accredited courses. 

Amy Walker, a Director of the Chancerygate Foundation, said: “It might seem hard to believe, but the real estate sector is actually less diverse than the House of Commons.

“There’s a report recently published by the Bridge Group that makes for sobering reading. The perception is that real estate is a world where it’s still very much about who you know, and the evidence backs that up.

“That’s exactly what we are hoping to tackle through the work of the Chancerygate Foundation. We want to inspire people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who would not have considered a career in this sector – and to encourage them to believe that it’s possible.” 

Professor George Ofori, Dean of The Built Environment and Architecture school at LSBU, said:

“The £180,000 bursary from Chancerygate Foundation will make a huge difference, supporting more black and minority ethnic students to study at LSBU and gain the qualifications they need to work in chartered surveying roles in the property industry”.

“This incredibly kind donation by Chancerygate Foundation will support LSBU’s ‘No Barriers to Brilliance programme’ which is widening opportunities for our students and will increase diversity in the UK’s property industry.”