Video Blog - Social Value and DE&I
- Jen Lemen
- Nov 11
- 4 min read
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What is this video blog about?
In this week's video blog, Property Elite's Abigail Blumzon hosts Katie Corbett and Karl Brown in a discussion about social value, DE&I and the property & construction industry.
Katie is a Social Value & EDI Manager at Bray & Slaughter, as well as being the Women in Property South West DEI Champion and holding a MSc in Equality & Human Rights.
In her own words;
With experience on both the consultancy and contractor sides of the industry, and an MSc in Equality and Human Rights, I bring a practical and informed approach to social value and EDI delivery. In my current role, I lead strategies that embed impact and inclusion into projects – managing partnerships, planning, delivery, progress reporting throughout the lifecycle, and final project reporting. Alongside this, I serve as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion for the Women in Property South West Committee, where I advocate for industry-wide inclusion by organising events and initiatives across Bristol.
Karl is a Partner at Clarke Willmott, a Business Fellow at UWE, a Social Mobility Ambassador to the Law Society and the Chairperson of the Bristol Property Inclusion Commission.
The Commission consists of representatives from the Bristol property industry and supports the implementation of the Bristol Property Inclusion Charter. Karl founded and launched the Charter in November 2019 to be a vehicle to promote and drive diversity and inclusion in the Bristol property industry/sector.
Many thanks also go to Ytzen van der Werf, Programme Leader MSc Real Estate Finance & Investment at UWE Bristol, who helped to set up this insightful discussion.
In the property & construction industries, success has become defined by social value, in addition to the traditional metrics of cost, time, and quality. In this video blog, we explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) intersect with social value and what you need to know as an RICS APC or AssocRICS candidate, or qualified Chartered Surveyor.
Why do social value and DE&I belong together?
Social value is about improving lives and strengthening communities through the work that we do as property & construction professionals.
DE&I is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can contribute to and benefit from those outcomes.
The two are, therefore, inseparable. When projects are planned and delivered inclusively, they create more sustainable, equitable, and positive results for society.
What do we learn in this video blog?
This insightful discussion emphasises that DE&I isn’t just a 'moral obligation', rather it has become a strategic advantage. Diverse teams innovate better, understand community needs more deeply, and build trust with clients and stakeholders.
We also found that social value shouldn’t be an add-on at the end of a project. It must be designed in from the start, with clear metrics, community engagement, and transparent reporting.
How can you incorporate social value and DE&I in your own projects and work?
Start with intent - make DE&I and social value explicit goals in your project briefs, not just optional extras.
Ask the right questions early - consider who benefits, who participates, and who might be excluded — and address those gaps.
Embed inclusion in procurement - choose suppliers, consultants, and contractors who share your values and can demonstrate inclusive practices.
Measure impact beyond numbers - go beyond financial or technical KPIs. Capture how your projects improve well-being, community engagement, and equity.
Empower diverse voices - ensure that decision-making teams reflect the communities they serve. Inclusion leads to better, fairer outcomes.
Reflect on this in your APC submission - use project examples that showcase your understanding of DE&I and social value in action. Demonstrate how your work has contributed to positive change.
Lead by example - foster a culture of openness, learning, and accountability. Encourage colleagues to keep DE&I on the agenda in every conversation.
Why does this matter for your RICS APC journey?
Demonstrating knowledge and application of DE&I and social value is no longer optional for RICS APC candidates - it’s an expectation. Candidates who show a genuine understanding of how these principles shape better projects, and better societies, will stand out and succeed.
Final thoughts...
The future of the built environment lies in its ability to reflect the world it serves. When we incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and social value into the very fabric of our work, we don’t just build projects — we build real, sustainable progress.
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Stay tuned for our next blog post to help build a better you.
N.b. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, professional or financial advice.
