At UKREiiF we’re dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. We often collaborate with organisations that share our passion for advancing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within the built environment. Together, we aim to drive meaningful change, not just at our annual UKREiiF event, but across the entire sector.

Over the years we’ve formed over 70 partnerships with a diverse range of EDI organisations. These include Regeneration Brainery, Black Women in Real Estate, Women in Property, Building People, Young Entrepreneurs in Property, Association of Muslim Surveyors, Real Estate Balance, and many more.

We spoke with some of our EDI partners to discover why UKREiiF is a must-attend event in their calendars and how our partnership has helped drive meaningful progress in improving diversity across the industry.

Leading the Way in Inclusion

Michele Steel, Chief Executive, of our official charity partner, Regeneration Brainery, shared:

“UKREiiF have really led the way in building an inclusive conference agenda. For us, being the official charity partner gives us an immense platform to share our mission of a more inclusive and diverse property industry. We’ve held discussions in the Regeneration Brainery Studio at UKREiiF on as varied a range of topics as planning accessible mass transit systems and providing cutting edge adult social care, to plugging the skills gap with talent with a range of experiences and the importance of inclusivity to that agenda.

UKREiiF really stands out for creating a space that allows these discussions to take place, not as a token EDI session, but as the core purpose of one of its conference spaces.

The other massive opportunity UKREiiF presents for us is the access it gives young talent (or “the Brainees” as we call them) to thousands of industry pros. There’s no bigger property networking opportunity in the UK and having 50+ young people join us at UKREiiF for the last two years has created some incredible opportunities for work experience, mentorship and network building, that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”  

A Platform for Visibility and Impact

Hanna Afolabi, Founder and CEO at Black Women in Real Estate, highlighted:

 “UKREiiF isn’t just another real estate conference—it’s where real conversations spark real change. As a must-attend event, the UKREiiF team has set the bar for inclusivity, ensuring access for all and creating a space where industry professionals can connect, challenge, collaborate, and drive innovation—demonstrating that DEI is far more than just a tick-box exercise. BWRE’s partnership with UKREiiF has played a crucial role in driving meaningful progress, creating opportunities for members to be both present and visible, not only during the conference but across the broader sector. The connections made here don’t stay within the event walls—they translate into action, influence, and lasting impact that extend well beyond the conference.”

Empowering the Next Generation

Representatives from Young Entrepreneurs in Property (YEP), shared:

“YEP Leeds and the national YEP network is proud to have worked closely with UKREiiF over the past few years, supporting their mission for greater representation of EDI groups across the Built Environment. The team at UKREiiF have always been, and continue to be, incredibly supportive in promoting our network and our events, which provide opportunities for early career professionals working across the industry to connect, learn and share knowledge with each other and senior leaders. We are thrilled that UKREiiF provides such a unique platform for this to take place and for the voices of young people to be heard at a national scale, through creating an environment for meaningful conversations around cross sector issues and opportunities. UKREiiF is a major event in our calendar at YEP and we’re looking forwards to another year of exciting collaboration.”

Creating Space for Meaningful Conversations

Liz Waller, Head of Business Development and Andrea Carpenter, Co-founder & Director at Diversity Talks Real Estate, said:

“UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend event in UK real estate. The organisers are working hard to reflect both the present and future of the industry through their commitment to diversity, and that has made our formal conversations and chance encounters on the ground enriching and supportive of our mission.”

“Diversity Talks Real Estate is a non-profit organisation working to improve diversity and inclusion in the European built environment industry by raising the visibility of under-represented professionals. They provide the industry with a free speaker platform to connect diverse professionals with speaking opportunities and offer a range of public speaking and professional development training courses. Designed to empower professionals at every level, their courses focus on public speaking, leadership and confidence building. Each session provides practical tools, expert insights, and valuable networking opportunities. As a member of the UKREiiF network, you’re invited to take advantage of an exclusive 10% discount on course registrations using promo code PARTNERTEN.”

More information on Diversity Talks Real Estate can be found here. 

A Growing Community of Change-Makers

Emily Baigent, Energy, Carbon and Sustainability Consultant, at TFT, told UKREiiF:

“We’re glad to have partnered with UKREiiF to put on fringe events for Freehold LGBTQ+ through the years and appreciate how UKREiiF has made space for organisations like Freehold to take part in the week’s events. 

Personally, as someone who is coming to UKREiiF 2025 as a ’next generation’ attendee, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to mix with, and learn from, those at the leading edge of our industry, including colleagues from a huge variety of pathways, specialisms, and sectors. This is an important part of UKREiiF’s growing appeal, to me. Fostering learning, collaboration, and development is essential to create a more resilient industry with the skills and understanding to improve our built environment for the future.”

Encouraging Wellbeing and Charity

Nick Hanmer, CEO of Club Peloton, shared:

“UKREiiF has become an unmissable event in Club Peloton calendar because it champions the values of EDI within the built environment and this is what we strive for in our fundraising challenges. 

Our partnership has been pivotal in creating an event that foregrounds wellbeing and the charity initiatives that we support, enabling us to continue making a positive and tangible difference to the lives of children and young people. By working together, we’re not only driving meaningful progress at the event but also inspiring broader, long-term change benefitting the entire sector. UKREiiF is where action meets opportunity, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.”

UKREiiF is more than just an event, it’s a movement driving lasting change in the built environment. Through our partnerships and commitment to inclusivity, we are creating a space where diverse voices are not only heard but valued and empowered to shape the future of our industry.

As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities, sparking vital conversations, and ensuring that UKREiiF remains a platform for meaningful action. Whether you’re an established professional, an emerging leader, or an organisation championing EDI, we invite you to be part of this journey with us. You can find out more by reaching out to [email protected].