Press Release

The Trouble with Working Women…

12 May 2009

As the BBC unveils a new two part TV series exploring attitudes to working women 40 years after the Equal Pay Act, the fact remains that on average a man will earn £369,000 more than a woman across their career. But through a Government funded ‘Women and Work’ project, Skills for Justice is helping women in a variety of job roles to improve their career prospects and earning potential through developing new skills.

The Women and Work project being run by Skills for Justice aims to help women in a range of roles to develop their skills, and will support organisations to explore the roles of company culture, policies and organisational structure on women’s progression, and how these could be a barrier to women’s success.

The new two-part BBC TV series will be shown on BBC2 on Monday and Tuesday 18 and 19 May, and will explore men and women’s attitudes to working women, asking why men still dominate the top jobs and earn more. Programme makers will conduct a series of tests and experiments to investigate the impact of biology, sexism and the practicalities of family life on women getting to the top. It will feature interviews with a range of women including a female officer at the Metropolitan Police.

For women in senior management roles, the Women and Work project is offering support to change company systems and structures through an Executive Coaching programme. The aim is to help organisations remove the concrete ceiling that can prevent women from getting to the top.

Annette Shepherd, Area Manager with security firm G4S, told delegates at the recent Skills for Justice Skills Summit conference, that “a change in management culture and implementation of HR policies in G4S has led to an increase in the number of women at all levels, including middle and senior management.”

The project - Women & Work: Sector Pathways Initiative - aims to raise recruitment levels in sectors where women are under-represented, increase earning potential and aid career progression. The initiative is in response to recommendations by the Women & Work Commission's report 'Shaping a Fairer Future' and receives Government funding, matched by employer contributions. There are over 570 learning and development opportunities available in England, with future consideration being given to extending the project to cover Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland