Real Estate Balance People Survey 2026

At Real Estate Balance, we carry out the most comprehensive study of DE&I in UK real estate and its associated sectors.

Everyone working in our industry can make a difference by sharing their views.

Your responses to the questions will generate insights to help us determine how far we have come in progressing DE&I in our workplaces and also where we should focus and prioritise moving forward.

The survey is anonymous and we do not ask for any information that will identify respondents. However, the results of the survey, including comments with your permission, will be published in a final report.

Unless stated otherwise, please select one answer for each question.

You can view our Privacy Policy here.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey; we really value your views.

1.Do you permit us to include your anonymous comments in the report highlighting the findings of this survey?(Required.)

Yes

3.What is the approximate size of the organisation you work for? (Required.)

1-250 employees

251-1,000 employees

1,001-10,000 employees

10,000+ employees

5.Which level are you within your organisation?(Required.)

Board

Senior and Leadership (typically reporting to a Board or Executive Committee member)

Middle Management (typically reporting to a Senior Leader)

Qualified or equivalent (achieved professional qualification where applicable, unlikely to have any direct reports)

Support Staff/ Other

Graduate/ Apprentice/ Entry Level

9.Which type of school did you attend between the ages of 11 and 16? If you changed schools, please base your answer on the last two years of your education.(Required.)

State-run or state-funded school (selective on academic, faith or other grounds)

State-run or state-funded school (non-selective)

Independent/ fee-paying school

Independent/ fee-paying school, where I received a bursary covering 90% or more of my tuition

Attended school outside the UK

Don’t know/ not sure

Prefer not to say

10.Did either of your parents attend university by the time you were 18?(Required.)

Yes, one or both of my parents attended university

No, neither of my parents attended university

Don’t know/ not sure

Prefer not to say

11.What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were about 14?(Required.)

Modern professional and traditional professional occupations such as:

teacher, nurse, physiotherapist, social worker, musician, police officer (sergeant or above), software designer, accountant, solicitor, medical practitioner, scientist, civil/ mechanical engineer.

Senior, middle or junior managers or administrators such as:

finance manager, chief executive, large business owner, office manager, retail manager, bank manager, restaurant manager, warehouse manager.

Clerical and intermediate occupations such as:

secretary, personal assistant, call centre agent, clerical worker, nursery nurse.

Technical and craft occupations such as:

motor mechanic, plumber, printer, electrician, gardener, train driver.

Routine, semi-routine manual and service occupations such as:

postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, sales assistant, HGV driver, cleaner, porter, packer, labourer, waiter/ waitress, bar staff.

Small business owners who employed less than 25 people such as:

corner shop owners, small plumbing companies, retail shop owner, single restaurant or cafe owner, taxi owner, garage owner.

Long term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker's Allowance or
earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year).

Other, such as: retired, this question does not apply to me, I don’t know.

Prefer not to say

12.Where do you see the greatest disparity of diversity in your organisation?(Required.)

14.How important is it to you that your employer is taking actions to progress diversity and inclusion?

15.Thinking about your relationship with your line manager, do you feel safe and comfortable discussing your long-term career aspirations or personal life goals, directly with them?

Yes

Partially

16.Please elaborate on either why you feel you can or cannot discuss these topics with your line manager.

17.Do you feel safe and comfortable addressing non-inclusive behaviours directly with your line manager?

Yes

Partially

18.Please elaborate on either why you feel you can or cannot discuss these topics with your line manager.

19.Now, thinking about your wider team… how confident do you feel speaking up, setting workload boundaries, or challenging non-inclusive behaviour without fear of negative consequences?

20.What specific factors within your team drive your level of confidence?

21.At what career milestone or transition have you experienced (or anticipate experiencing) the greatest barrier to your progression?

Early Career (Anticipated): Expecting barriers when securing first supervisory, management, or senior role

Early Career (Experienced): Faced barriers securing first supervisory, management, or senior role

Mid-Career Transition: Moving from individual contributor to team lead, manager, or senior specialist

Senior Leadership Shift: Advancing from middle management to head of function, director, or executive level

Life & Career Pivots: Navigating major personal transitions (e.g., parental/caregiving leave, extended absence, relocation)

Lateral & Specialism Moves: Changing functional tracks, switching departments, or pivoting specialisms

None: I have not experienced or do not anticipate any barriers

Prefer not to say

23.Are there any other comments you would like to make?