The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced the winners of its inaugural Women in Construction Scholarship.

According to a 2022 study of the UK's construction dispute resolution sector by King's College London (KCL), just under 8% of adjudicators are women. These findings demonstrate the immediate need to improve representation in the sector.

Each scholarship covers a place on the RICS Diploma in Adjudication in the Construction Industry course, valued at £3,919. The scholarship initiative underscores RICS' commitment to fostering diversity within construction adjudication and advocacy for greater representation of women in it. It provides a platform for women engaged in construction-related occupations to pursue their ambitions in dispute resolution and adjudication.

After a rigorous selection process, which included reviewing over 30 applications and essay submissions, the esteemed panel of judges made up of RICS Fellows Amanda Clack, Louise Brook-Smith, and Matt Molloy, selected Victoria Clapp, and Iona Morrison as joint winners of the scholarship.

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Victoria Clapp is the Technical Principal for Cost, Commercial, and Quantity Surveying (CCQ) at global consultancy Mott MacDonald. As a Fellow of RICS and a finalist in the RICS Young Surveyor of the Year 2022, Victoria is dedicated to shaping best practices and promoting the profession to the next generation. With a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), Victoria co-leads the RICS Matrics UK board strategy, drawing from her lived experience of being neurodivergent.

Iona Morrison is Senior Project Manager in AECOM's Edinburgh team. With a background in administering JCT contracts and managing multidisciplinary teams, Iona is passionate about promoting diversity within the construction industry. She serves as the ED&I Champion for Scotland at AECOM and founded the Scotland Women's Network to foster connections among women across disciplines.

Both Victoria and Iona exemplify the spirit of the scholarships, demonstrating leadership and a commitment to advancing diversity within the construction sector.

Rajbinder Sohal, Head of DRS Products & Engagement, said: "The Scholarship is a small step to creating greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in construction sector adjudication, helping to bring varied perspectives to decision-making. It assists in addressing systemic biases ultimately fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can feel respected and heard. RICS' commitment to DEI through this initiative not only strengthens the integrity and trustworthiness of the adjudication process, but also enhances credibility and reinforces public confidence.

"All the data shows that we need to significantly improve the representation of women in the sector, and we hope this annual scholarship will inspire more women to take up adjudication roles in the years to come. Victoria and Iona, our inaugural scholarship winners, are model professionals undertaking consistently excellent work in the sector and it is only right to recognise and reward their efforts."