Equality isn’t a women’s issue. It’s a business advantage. It makes companies stronger, teams more engaged, and clients more loyal. Yet, in estate agency, it’s still too often treated as a side conversation, something nice to have, if there’s time.
But here’s the truth: inclusive, equal workplaces outperform those that aren’t. And the numbers prove it.
Equality is not just the right thing to do, but the smartest move you can make as a leader, a manager, or a business owner. Because when women thrive, everyone does.
Understanding The Real Cost of Inequality
Let’s start with what inequality actually looks like in estate agency. It’s often subtle. Fewer women progressing into leadership roles. Less access to flexible work. Male-dominated boards. Pay gaps that still persist. And cultures that reward confidence over competence.
According to PwC’s 2024 Women in Work Index, the gender pay gap in the UK has barely shifted in over a decade. In estate agency specifically, women make up over 50% of entry-level roles, but just 20% of leadership positions.
This isn’t just unfair. It’s inefficient. It means businesses are leaving talent untapped, missing perspectives in decision-making, and risking disengagement from a huge portion of their workforce.
When women face barriers to progression, it doesn’t just impact them. It impacts the team. The clients. The culture. And ultimately, the bottom line.
What the Data Tells Us
The most diverse companies are more successful. This isn’t theory, it’s proven. According to McKinsey’s 2020 report “Diversity Wins”, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability.
Meanwhile, research from Cloverpop found that diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time. That’s not just nice-to-have. That’s mission-critical.
Inclusive companies:
- Retain staff for longer
- Attract top talent more easily
- Build stronger relationships with clients
- Perform better in tough markets
And crucially, they create cultures where everyone feels able to show up, speak up, and step up.
What Inequality Looks Like in Estate Agency
In estate agency, inequality shows up in different ways:
- Leadership dominated by men, even in agencies where most staff are women
- Flexible working seen as a perk rather than a standard
- Women being passed over for roles that require travel or long hours, due to assumptions about family responsibilities
- A lack of mentorship and sponsorship for women rising through the ranks
And this isn’t just about women. These conditions often create rigid, outdated work cultures that hurt everyone. Men who want to work flexibly or take parental leave. Younger agents who crave purpose and transparency. Clients who want to see themselves represented in the businesses they choose.
A culture that doesn’t work for women rarely works well for anyone.
Why Equality Benefits Everyone
Here’s what happens when you commit to true equality:
- You get better ideas. When people from different backgrounds contribute, creativity soars. Your marketing improves. Your client service sharpens. Your team adapts faster.
- You build trust. Clients want to work with companies that reflect their values. They notice who’s on your leadership team, who’s in your marketing, and how your team interacts.
- You boost morale. When people feel seen and supported, they’re more loyal, more motivated, and more likely to stay.
- You attract talent. Younger generations prioritise working for companies that value diversity. They will actively avoid businesses that don’t.
- You perform better. It’s not just about values, it’s about value. Equality drives better results.
This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about raising them, for everyone.
How to Move Beyond Good Intentions
Believing in equality is a great start. But action is what makes the difference. Here are three practical steps to take now:
1.Audit your business
Who’s in leadership? What does your gender pay gap look like? What feedback are you hearing from women in your business?
2. Change your policies
Normalise flexible working. Improve parental leave. Introduce transparent promotion criteria. These changes benefit everyone, not just women.
3. Join the WiEA Supporters Charter
This is more than a badge. It’s a commitment to do better. To show your team, your clients and your community that you’re serious about creating a fairer, more inclusive workplace. Find out more
Leadership Means Leading on Equality
Whether you’re running your own branch or heading up a multi-office agency, your leadership sets the tone. What you reward. Who you promote. How you listen. These things shape culture.
Leading on equality doesn’t mean getting it perfect. It means being willing to ask questions, challenge old assumptions, and put progress over perfection.
It means:
- Championing women even when they’re not in the room
- Sponsoring careers, not just mentoring
- Calling out bias in hiring, promotion, or pay decisions
- Listening, learning, and acting on feedback
And it means making sure no one’s potential is capped by outdated systems or assumptions.
Why Now is the Time
The property sector is changing. Clients expect more. Agents expect more. And those who build inclusive, human-centred cultures will be the ones who thrive.
Post-pandemic, with hybrid working, changing expectations, and increased focus on wellbeing, there’s never been a better time to reimagine how we work. Equality is no longer a sideline issue, it’s a core business strategy.
Want to Lead the Change?
WiEA exists to support this change. Our Supporters Charter is a practical way to embed equality in your business and join a growing community of leaders who are making change happen, together. You’ll get access to policy templates, training, resources and a network of forward-thinking leaders.
Equality isn’t just good for women. It’s good for business. Because together we thrive.
