It aims to create a diverse and inclusive property industry by giving financial support and guidance to students who would like to study for a real estate degree, but whose personal circumstances mean they are unable to attend university.

Students who are awarded a chartered surveyors bursary will each be assisted by a property industry ‘champion’, who will pay £10,000 a year, for a total of three years, to cover a student's university living expenses.

The recipients will also receive ongoing mentoring throughout their degree and as they enter the workplace.

Hollis, M7 Real Estate and Dunmoore Group have already pledged their commitment to funding bursaries under this scheme. 

The WCCS’s goal is 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.

Pathways to Property will manage the application process for students and will be responsible for the administrative and safeguarding role throughout their education.

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

The students, some of whom were the first in their family to attend university, commenced their studies in October 2020 at universities including Nottingham Trent, Sheffield Hallam, Cambridge, the University of Manchester and Reading.

It is now opening up the scheme to the wider property industry to enable more businesses to support the education of young people who face entry barriers.

Ken Morgan, master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, said: “Talent is evenly spread across society, but opportunity is now 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.”

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.”