KENT-based estate agents Ward & Partners has established a policy to employ mothers who want the challenge of a busy office job, but who aren’t in a position to give the full traditional office day.

Out of 14 offices in East Kent, nine have full-time mothers employed as part-time secretaries.

It works extremely well all round, according to Ward’s managing director for East Kent, Andrew Dickinson.

He said: “We realise that there is a vast pool of untapped talent and skills held by women who have had children. There are a lot of skilled individuals who are forced out of the workplace because of restrictive hours.

“By employing them we gain the benefit of their skills, talent and experience. It helps us and is good for them and is a very effective way of helping the local economy.”

He added: “Our part time workers are extremely good at time management - one of the classic skills learned from parenting.

“They work extremely hard and give us tremendous loyalty, and we are privileged to have them."

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STRUTT & Parker has appointed Anthony Cane as senior partner. He assumes his role on May 1.

James Donald, who has held the position for the last seven years, is stepping down and will devote more time to commercial client work for the firm.

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THE Traditional Housing Bureau has welcomed the newly revised Part E of the Building Regulations, which is designed to reduce the noise in new houses.

The new regulation sets standards not only for the reduction of noise coming into the home from neighbouring houses and from outside, but also for the transmission of noise between rooms within the house.

Alan Tovey, Secretary of the THB was enthusiastic. He said: “We know from our discussions with the owners of new houses that one of the things which causes most annoyance is noise travelling between rooms - particularly for families with lively children.

“We are delighted that this issue is being tackled by Building Regulations as it has a real impact on people’s quality of life.’’

To help house buyers ask those important questions, the THB has a website www.housebuilder.org.uk and also publishes a magazine called Home Life which is available free of charge on request from Amy Taylor on 01372 371800.