Q+A: queen of sheds:
Q+A: queen of sheds:
Q+A: queen of sheds:
Q+A: queen of sheds: Ruth Tytherley, associate director at CB Richard Ellis, is the first woman to be appointed chair of the industrial agents society. As she takes over her role this month, Tytherley tells Aditi Shah about her experience as a woman in the world of sheds.(Workplace)(Industrial Agenys Societies)(Interview).
How do you feel about becoming chair?
I have been working in the industry for 10 years and joined the IAS committee six years ago. I was pleased that my appointment, by former IAS chairman Steve Williams, was based on my reputation, rather than my gender.
I was the vice-chair for two years, so I have been lowered into this job gently.
I had to think quite hard before taking it up because I would have to balance it with my fee-paying job at CB Richard Ellis, which keeps me busy, and I was nervous about how people would perceive me as a woman. The older generation of property professionals are still quite wary about male-female issues, so I will need to work a little harder than my former colleagues.
How does the sheds world see women?
The nature of the product, sheds, is such that the sector lends itself to be male dominated. I once went to see a warehouse that was full of porn magazines.
If you have a delicate disposition, you will be easily affected in such a situation and in that case this is something you should not get into.
But being a woman in this world has its advantages. When you walk into a room full of men, people listen to you twice as hard, but they also ask more difficult questions, which prepares you better in your career.
You can get a different angle on things, and sometimes people rely on you more because you're not a guy and you can get more information from them. They also see women as more organised.
Is safety an issue on visits?
It can be at times and you have to be careful. Most industrial units are in isolated areas, far from town centres. Each time I am on a shed visit with a client I have my secretary call me 10 minutes into the meeting and we have a code word if I perceive any danger.
Should more women choose sheds?
Certainly, I think the perception of the shed world being an old boys' network is changing and, because there are not many women in the profession, people tend to remember you better, especially if you're good and thick skinned.
There are several successful women in the industry like Laura Sutton, Kate Dean and Nicola Webb and we have a little network of girls.
If you like a challenge and enjoy what you're doing it is a good sector and you get to meet a range of different people, from workmen to bankers. But you need to see the job as what it is, rather than how much money you can make out of it.
What is your agenda for the IAS?
The IAS has 800 members across the UK, and our primary aim is to create networking and communication opportunities to help members exchange ideas.
Budget tightening means we don't have the same level of sponsorship and funding as before. We need to develop innovative ideas to continue running events at which our members can interact.
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