Women and Work 2011-12: Supporting Women’s Skills Across the UK

Five hundred women working in land-based industries across the UK will continue to benefit from Lantra’s Women and Work 2011-12 Funding Project, as it has been extended for a fifth year.

Women and Work has already helped 1212 businesses and 3,250 women to increase their skills in industries where women are under-represented. Not only that, for the first time ever, this project is open to women from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and those who have already participated in the project will be able to re-apply for a second wave of funding to develop their skills even further.

Lyndsay Bird, Women and Work Project Manager, said, “Over the past four years I have seen some incredibly hard working women develop their skills, greatly progressing in their careers. I am pleased to announce that Women and Work funding will be available for another year.

“This project is unique as it requires the support of the employer, so it is a way to show your female employees that you believe in them and want them be successful. Not only can participants undertake technical skills, they can also benefit from leadership and management courses.”

Women and Work funding is available to those working in industries where women are statistically under-represented. These industries include agriculture, aquaculture, environmental conservation, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, landscaping and sports turf, production horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.

Lucy Taylor, HR manager for Thompson Bros. (Esher) Ltd, recently gained Chartered status in the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) with help from a Women and Work funding grant. She said: “Achieving a professional qualification has directly impacted on my work because it helped me get a promotion at work and now I’m recruiting for a HR Assistant.” In addition to her promotion, Lucy was awarded the Women and Work Production Horticulture Winner of the Year Award (2010-11).

Lyndsay said, “Women have been registered for some time, waiting for a spot in this year’s Women and Work project. If you want to get involved, I urge you to act now, to ensure you get one of the 500 spaces. Don’t delay or you might be disappointed.”

Find out more about Women and Work at www.lantra.co.uk/women-and-work. For more information about Lantra visit www.lantra.co.uk or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LantraSSC.

Lucy Taylor – Lantra’s Women and Work Production Horticulture Award Winner 2010/11

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