A Guildford chartered surveyor is calling on careers officers in the county to do more to promote the profession among school pupils.
Naomi Game from West Byfleet is one of just 20 per cent of female members of the professional body Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Later this month, Louise Brooke-Smith, an urban land economist and town planner, will become the Institution's first elected female president in its 146-year history.
"Chartered surveying is a hugely enjoyable job with a great career prospects," says Naomi, aged 29, a senior surveyor with commercial property agents Bruton Knowles in Guildford.
"Yet too few women are entering the profession and it remains largely male-dominated industry. I would like to see far more of us coming through, especially in light of Louise's election.
"In my experience, outside of the independent education sector, chartered surveying doesn't appear to be on the map for many careers officers, and especially not when it comes to women.
"Accreditation as a chartered surveyor opens up the chance to enter a hugely diverse profession which covers 19 different specialisms in three sectors – land, property and construction, – and the chance to work on projects all over the world.
"I get a great kick out of working in the industry and would like more women like me to get the same opportunity.
"Things are improving, back in the 80s just 3 per cent of chartered surveyors were female, but the accountancy and legal professions are still way ahead with participation rates close to 50/50."
As regards clients, Naomi says attitudes to women in the profession are changing, but admits she still gets the occasional 'negative comment' as regards her sex.
"But on the whole, the job is immensely rewarding. I spend half my time in the office and half out and about, which is great for me as I wouldn't enjoy being stuck in front of a desk all day."
Outside of work, Naomi a self-confessed 'country girl', who studied at the Royal Agricultural College for an MSc in Rural Estate Management in Cirencester, likes nothing more than taking to the saddle on her horse Tonto.
RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an international professional body with over 100,000 members. It regulates and promotes the profession to protect clients and consumers via a strict code of ethics and provides impartial advice, analysis and guidance.
Members are known as chartered surveyors and are recognised by the designation after their name: MRICS (Member of RICS), FRICS (Fellow of RICS) and AssocRics (Associate of RICS).
Naomi Game from West Byfleet is one of just 20 per cent of female members of the professional body Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Later this month, Louise Brooke-Smith, an urban land economist and town planner, will become the Institution's first elected female president in its 146-year history.
"Chartered surveying is a hugely enjoyable job with a great career prospects," says Naomi, aged 29, a senior surveyor with commercial property agents Bruton Knowles in Guildford.
"Yet too few women are entering the profession and it remains largely male-dominated industry. I would like to see far more of us coming through, especially in light of Louise's election.
"In my experience, outside of the independent education sector, chartered surveying doesn't appear to be on the map for many careers officers, and especially not when it comes to women.
"Accreditation as a chartered surveyor opens up the chance to enter a hugely diverse profession which covers 19 different specialisms in three sectors – land, property and construction, – and the chance to work on projects all over the world.
"I get a great kick out of working in the industry and would like more women like me to get the same opportunity.
"Things are improving, back in the 80s just 3 per cent of chartered surveyors were female, but the accountancy and legal professions are still way ahead with participation rates close to 50/50."
As regards clients, Naomi says attitudes to women in the profession are changing, but admits she still gets the occasional 'negative comment' as regards her sex.
"But on the whole, the job is immensely rewarding. I spend half my time in the office and half out and about, which is great for me as I wouldn't enjoy being stuck in front of a desk all day."
Outside of work, Naomi a self-confessed 'country girl', who studied at the Royal Agricultural College for an MSc in Rural Estate Management in Cirencester, likes nothing more than taking to the saddle on her horse Tonto.
RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an international professional body with over 100,000 members. It regulates and promotes the profession to protect clients and consumers via a strict code of ethics and provides impartial advice, analysis and guidance.
Members are known as chartered surveyors and are recognised by the designation after their name: MRICS (Member of RICS), FRICS (Fellow of RICS) and AssocRics (Associate of RICS).
