The auction room used to be male-dominated territory. Not anymore.

Proving they are just as capable of successfully wielding the gavel, our women auctioneers were deservedly in the spotlight thanks to a national newspaper.

An article in The Times shone a light on the growing presence of women not just in property auctioneering but leading a sale on the rostrum.

Alongside comment from Sheldon Bosley Knight’s associate director Matt Burrows, it featured three of four women in our business – Sally Smith, Jessica Lewis and Samantha-Marie Parsons. They, with colleague Sara Herbert, are showing gender should be no barrier for those who want to pursue a career in the industry.

Matt said: “I am delighted and very proud The Times chose to feature my amazing and very talented female colleagues.

“When recruiting, I’ve always prioritised the qualities that really matter in this profession: professionalism, communication and genuine understanding alongside empathy and talent.

“Many of our clients come to auction through challenging circumstances, whether as a result of probate, financial pressures, or personal loss and it takes a steady, empathetic hand to guide them through.
“The industry has for too long, carried the perception of being an ‘old boys’ club’.

“That’s changing, and rightly so. Women like Sally, Jessica, Sara and Samantha-Marie are proving every day that success on the rostrum is earned through hard work and skill, not gender.”

Both Jessica and Samantha-Marie gained their Propertymark Level 3 Award in Real Property Auctioneering qualifications earlier this year and are now firm fixtures wielding the gavel in our sales.

Also fully qualified are Sally and Sara, who work within Sheldon Bosley Knight’s Loveitts arm, and have been working in the sector for a number of years – Sally having two decades under her belt and Sara who joined the auction team nine years ago. We are proud of each of our women auctioneers so here’s to Sally, Jessica, Sara and Samantha-Marie and all those leading the way. The sound of progress has never been clearer.