A DOWNEND lawyer has received a prestigious award in recognition of his positive contribution to Bristol’s property sector.
Karl Brown, a commercial property partner in the city office of national law firm Clarke Willmott, was given the Bristol Property Agents Association’s annual Malcolm Gunter Award in recognition of the Bristol Property Inclusion Charter, which he founded five years ago to boost diversity and inclusion.
Starting with 16 organisations, more than 100 have now come onboard.
The charter promotes collaboration between its signatories to boost diversity, with talks and panel discussions on this topic.
Recent initiatives include a mentoring scheme for UWE Bristol real estate students, the production of a property careers short film circulated to school pupils and a property foundation class for school students, launched in September last year.
Karl, who grew up in Downend and went to Bromley Heath Junior School and Downend School, said: “It is a great honour to be the recipient of the BPAA Malcolm Gunter award.
“As the son of Windrush generation parents from Jamaica, who came to the UK from modest backgrounds, I am passionate about boosting social mobility and life chances for young people and those from less privileged backgrounds.
“In particular I am keen that young people and those from less privileged backgrounds are able to see the fantastic and varied opportunities available for a career in the property industry and, if interested, to access those opportunities.”