Welsh Government
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Funding to develop an Agile Workforce announced
Chwarae Teg’s Agile Nation project, which will receive an £8.2m boost from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government, will help women to achieve their full potential by promoting gender equality in employment and supporting career advancement. It will also contribute to a reduction of the gender pay gap that still exists in the labour market.
By assisting up to 2,800 women in West Wales and the Valleys through training and mentoring, the project aims to progress their careers and higher skilled employment opportunities. In addition, a training allowance scheme will be available for women wishing to improve their range of skills as well as help with identifying quality part-time work.
Agile Nation will also help over 600 employers with training on equality and diversity issues, raise awareness of the benefits of flexible working, as well as promoting and educating employers around work life balance issues. By helping to address barriers to progression for women, the project will encourage businesses and organisations to become an employer of choice, and eligible for a Best Practice Award.
The project will also collaborate with educators and advisors to address gender stereotyping and the promotion of equality and diversity in early years education.
Announcing the project, Jane Hutt, Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, said:
The Convergence European Social Fund support for Agile Nation will make this service available to women in some of Wales' most deprived areas. These direct interventions lay the ground work for a step change in the position of women in the economic environment in Wales.
It will provide support for employers and training for employees to enable them to fulfil their potential, embedding the culture of Work-Life Balance in the workplace and promoting the progression of women in the labour market.
To mark the announcement Ms Hutt met Eleanor Davies of Taffs Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf, who currently works at Cardiff Community Housing Association.
Eleanor has been able to continue her career thanks to the Chwarae Teg and Welsh Assembly Government initiative - Getting the Balance Right Work Life Balance.
As part of the new project, a virtual Centre of Excellence will be established for gender equality, flexible working and work life balance issues.
Ms Hutt added:
This facility will offer online support and guidance for both employers and individuals to reduce segregation in the labour market, and enable the advancement of women in the workforce.
On receiving the news of the funding Chwarae Teg’s interim Chief Executive, Katy Chamberlain said:
Chwarae Teg is delighted that Agile Nation has been approved in the new round of European funding. Evidence shows that there is still a lot to do to improve equality of opportunity for women in the workplace, enable women to progress in their careers and address the gender pay gap. Working with employers to address barriers to progression and to encourage the take up of flexible working and work-life balance practices will benefit the entire workforce, contributing to the retention of talent which is crucial to a successful business.
Chwarae Teg has a long and successful history of promoting the positive contribution that women make to the Welsh economy and this innovative and exciting project which brings together advice, training and technology will be a lasting legacy of best practice for Wales.
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