Women in Residential Property: Why we are Proud to Support.

Groundsure has been a proud sponsor of Women in Residential Property (WIRP) since 2018.

In this blog, our Events and Communications Specialist, Celia Candebat, reviews some of the important discussions and benefits that this thriving business network has to offer and shares her personal thoughts on being a committee member.

WIRP is an invaluable network for women working across all functions and stakeholders in the residential property industry. It helps its members expand their understanding of residential property as well as make new connections in a friendly and informal environment.

Emma Vigus, Founder of WIRP, comments:

“In 2017, a group of 20 ladies from the residential property industry met for lunch on a glorious sunny day in London. It was noisy, fun and insightful and it was the event that marked the launch of WIRP, although I had no idea at the time that we’d still be going 5 years later.

I’m delighted to say that many of the ladies who attended that lunch are still WIRP supporters. Over the next two years, we held several lunches and a fabulous afternoon tea and we started to support the charity Ella’s which provides vital help to women who’ve been the victims of trafficking and modern slavery.

Fast forward to today and our membership spans all facets of the residential property industry from lettings through to conveyancing and onto investment. We run more events, have more members and attract a lot more attention than we used to, but our principal aims of fostering collaboration; sharing insight and providing support remain as does our commitment to supporting Ella’s.

In the last 5 years we’ve discussed everything from cladding to sexual abuse. We’ve cried together, laughed together and enjoyed many glasses of wine together and long may it continue. Many of our members, myself included, have formed life-long friendships and all of us have developed a better understanding of the industry we work in.

This group would not exist without the support of our sponsors, tmgroup, SDL Surveying and Groundsure, our Media Partner Today’s Media and the enthusiasm and hard work of our committee. But most of all it’s our members that make this group what it is.”

I have been a member of the WIRP LinkedIn Group since joining Groundsure back in 2019. When the pandemic took over in 2020 and we were not able to attend face-to-face events, WIRP started hosting events and webinars online. I enjoyed them so much that I decided to become a member of the WIRP Committee at the start of 2021.

Being a committee member gives me the opportunity to contribute to this amazing networking group and help with content and events ideas. It also means meeting peers and new friends in an industry where relationships matter.

Another great reason to be part of WIRP is helping raise valuable funds for Ella’s, a charity that works with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Part of the proceeds from the WIRP webinars and face-to-face events is donated to Ella’s. WIRP has raised over £5,000 so far for this wonderful charity. To find out about all the great work that they do, visit www.ellas.org.uk.

On International Women’s Day, the 8th March, we took some members for a 12km walk around London and raised £600 for Ella’s. It was a great opportunity to catch up and meet new members whilst enjoying a sunny walk surrounded by London’s beautiful landmarks.

Quick stop at St Paul’s Cathedral

All smiles in front of the RICS

On top of charity walks, WIRP organises various events such as networking lunches, online webinars, monthly zoom coffee mornings and more. The first webinar of the year took place on the 24th February covering ‘Starting your business’ with a panel of experts who answered many questions from the members attending. Our latest webinar focused on ‘Net Zero – The opportunities and challenges for the property sector’. To join in and to find out about future events, all you have to do to register is become a member of the WIRP LinkedIn group.

The wide range of topics and events available means there is something for everyone in the residential sector. From solicitors, surveyors, lawyers, lenders, conveyancers, technology providers, the WIRP network provides a place for all professions to come together and share their wins and challenges, encouraging greater collaboration.

We are delighted to be maintaining this important partnership as a main sponsor in 2022. The group is flourishing and has now grown to more than 800 members and I look forward to helping our network grow even more!