Sector becoming more appealing to women

Membership organisation Women in Social Housing commissioned an online survey to find out about views of women working in the sector.

From surveying a cross section of its 100 members in London and the south east, it found 78.9 per cent of respondents thought the sector was getting better at encouraging women to join and stay in housing. But only 10.5 per cent thought it did enough.

Chair of the group Debra Constance said: ‘The survey says things are getting better but a lot more could be done.

‘A lot needs to change. We are still working in traditional ways that are not necessarily inclusive of women.’

She said organisations could be more open to help women in the workforce, for example allowing more part-time and flexible working.

Fifty two per cent of those surveyed said the new government would be worse for women in the housing sector.

Ms Constance said she was not surprised by the finding: ‘Women feel if jobs are going to go they will be the ones that suffer.’