More ESF-funded training for unemployed women Friday, February 11, 2011 - 16:30

To address the current under-representation of unemployed women in training funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has commissioned NIACE to run Engaging unemployed women in ESF-funded training.

The project will explore women's employment patterns, their attitudes towards employment and training and what obstacles they are faced with when it comes to participation. It will also examine the most successful methods of supporting unemployed women from diverse backgrounds, to join and succeed in pre-employment training.

To achieve this, the project will survey over 600 ESF project providers, consult with national and regional networks to shape guidance for a final report and host four regional events to gather feedback from providers.

Upon completion in April 2011, the project will publish a final report of its findings, which will include ten case studies of good practice that providers can use.

Jane Ward, Senior Programme Director at NIACE, said:

"In the current climate it is more important than ever that women have opportunities to access training to enhance their employment prospects and create more equitable labour market prospects. In the UK, 41 years after the 1970 Equal Pay Act, labour market inequalities between women and men persist in terms of skills, occupations, promotion, pay and access to training. The ‘5 C' occupations traditionally taken up by women - cleaning, catering, caring, cashiering and clerical - tend to be low paid and frequently part time."

"We do have many positive success stories that we can build on, where learning for entry to employment has been designed in ways that support women to take part, progress and raise their aspirations and achievements. We need to understand what works and what is needed to bring about justice and equity for women in the twenty first century. Women have much to offer and we lose so much when they are not able to fulfil their potential and ambitions."

We would like to hear from any project, whether ESF-funded or not, that has implemented successful strategies for engaging unemployed women from diverse backgrounds. While this is an England only project, we are also interested in exploring the strategies used by providers in the other home countries where gender targets are being met. To get in touch please email StevenH@niace.org.uk.