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Press Coverage
The independent minds and unique solutions of Abeceder have attracted the
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Women and Work - 26-07-2007 | Abeceder managing director Michael Millward was interviewed by Adam Tomlinson host of the Adam Tomlinson show on BBC Radio York today with Karren Brady managing director of Birmingham City Football Club about the Women and Work initiative from the Sector Skills Development Agency.
Karren the most high profile woman in English football is spearheading the second stage of the Women and Work campaign from Skills for Business and calling on women to improve their skills and careers.
The project is testing new recruitment and career opportunities for up to 10,000 women over two years in nine sectors where there are skills shortages and where women are under-represented. It is being delivered by Sector Skills Councils working with employers.
Karren is an exemplary role model. Only 23 when she became MD of Birmingham City FC she has transformed its fortunes, and in the process provided opportunities, through mentoring and training for her own female employees to achieve their potential.
She said: "There has been progress since I started out but the glass ceiling still exists for women in the UK - only 33 per cent of managers and senior officials in business and the public sector are female.
"But women are the hidden asset in ambitious companies looking to increase productivity. Working with Sector Skills Councils to unlock the potential of women in the labour market could be worth between £15 and £23 billion to the UK economy."
She said: "From my experience, you need to enable women to take control of their careers, inspiring them to achieve higher and give them the right tools to succeed."
Michael agrees “I have spent over 25 years in human resource management, normally working alongside or for women. The biggest problem employers face in employing women is the reluctance of women to apply for what they perceive to be male jobs.”
To some extent the news that the number of discrimination cases has increased is a positive step. I do not believe that they reflect an increase in sexual discrimination. It is more likely that men and women who are subject to discrimination now have the confidence to speak out. Every employer I speak to is interested in recruiting and developing talented people. Good employers do employ bad employees. The discrimination both men and women experience is often the result of the inappropriate perceptions of a colleague or manager.
Just as women need to break down their perceptions of what it is possible for them to do the people who hold the power to help them achieve their potential must also be encouraged to change their perceptions.
The project has many success stories including grandmother of two, Cheryl Mundy, who recently gained her LGV qualification through Women & Work after working for years in accounts at logistics company J.Pickard & Co of Umberleigh. She said: "The scheme was a fantastic opportunity for me to gain new skills and grow in confidence to do something I've always wanted to do." Her Managing Director Graham Short said: "I'm pleased that Cheryl has been given the chance to progress in her career. It's also been of huge benefit to the firm as we now have a relief driver available on site."
Karren is asking more employers to develop the skills of their female workforce so as to increase the productivity of their businesses and public service organisations.
Supporting the scheme, David Lammy, Minister for Skills, said,
"We are investing £10m to address the skills gender imbalance. It's about getting a better deal for women and for all of us, as this has the potential to bring a greater rate of return to our economy and to our society as a whole."
The Government investment is matched by contributions from employers to provide skills training, development and support – offering women the opportunity to train for a new job or progress within their company into higher skilled, better paid jobs.
Funding is available to the following sectors: construction, food and drink manufacture, environment and land based industries, clothing manufacture, transport, automotive retail, science & engineering, cleaning & facilities management, and energy and utilities.
Women and Work
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