Chartered Surveyors Training Trust (CSTT) makes a key new appointment to its Board and announces a new initiative to help improve diversity in the surveying profession
The CSTT, the charity focussed on improving access to the surveying
profession for young people from disadvantage backgrounds or with barriers, is pleased
to announce the appointment of Bola Abisogun OBE FRICS MCIOB as a director.
Bola is the Founder and Chair of DiverseCitySurveyors
William Hill, Chair of the CSTT commented:
“Bola is an eminent and inspirational member of the Surveying
Profession and will be a huge asset to
the CSTT. With Antonia Belcher, who
leads on LGBTQ+ matters, we have two fantastic role models to show that
surveying is open to everyone regardless of their background. He joins at an important time
as we launch an important new
initiative.”
CSTT has for many years created
opportunities for young people from disadvantaged and/or minority backgrounds
to become Chartered Surveyors. However,
in an attempt to broaden the employee base in industry from these groups CSTT is pleased to announce the expansion of its
successful pilot school programme called My Environment My Future. Developed by teachers for teachers as a module for the GCSE Geography course it
aims to open the eyes of young people, their
teachers and their parents to the wide range of interesting, well paid and
rewarding careers open to people in the built environment.
Whilst MEMF is available to all
schools CSTT are prioritising its roll out
to those that have catchments drawn from socially deprived areas and with
high numbers of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Terry Watts, chief executive of CSTT commented:
“We enable teachers to deliver the existing
Geography GCSE curriculum with enriched, real world content, supported by young
professionals from Industry. By doing this we will overcome the outdated image
of hard hats and muddy holes. We also address the Gatsby Benchmark 4, linking
curriculum learning to careers, that schools are now required to address.”
Bola Abisogun commented
“I have been speaking out about diversity and the barriers faced
by my colleagues in the profession for over 20 years now. As I have said
recently in a number of forums, the time for talking is over. We know what is
needed now is action, and I believe the CSTT is taking the right actions by
reaching out to schools and young people, as well as their parents, to make the
case for careers in Surveying and the Built Environment. I know from my own
experience with schools the sector is hidden in plain sight for many, and we need
to engage with passion and excitement of the next generation for the
environment they live in and need to help us shape. I am really looking forward
the working with the CSTT.”