| I’m pleased to be here this morning
at the launch of a significant opportunity for women in science.
The UK has always relied on the skills of its
workforce for success, but these skills have to be even more innovative,
original and pioneering to succeed in today’s global economy. Relying just
on what we have always done will not do.
We are world leaders in important areas –
financial services, where I know Greg Hands comes from, drug innovation,
parts of the ‘new’ media, retailing, and more.
The Government recognises that this country’s
science base is the bedrock for a successful economic future. There is an
increasing demand for SET skills, a demand coupled with an ageing
population – the UK’s productivity, competitive position and level of
innovation are threatened by a shortage of qualified people.
This is why we are here this morning. This event
is focussed on those women with SET degrees who are not currently working
in the sector. We have a situation where around 24,000 women with SET
qualifications return to work after career breaks each year - but only
about 8,000 of them return to SET careers.
This can be due to women wanting to return to work
after childbirth who face employers who are not flexible about starting
times etc. This attitude is still around despite research, and I would say
experience, which shows that retaining well motivated staff pays
dividends. Hopefully examples of good employers, trade union activity, and
the package of measures introduced by the Government helping enabling new
parents will help change this.
We have this morning an excellent practical way of
helping women back into science careers. A new collaboration between
L’Oreal and the ‘UK Resource Centre for Women in SET’.
L’Oreal and UNESCO have been working together
since 1999 on joint projects that aim to improve the situation for women
in science. Their ‘For Women in Science’ programme identifies five women
scientific researchers and fifteen promising young women scientists to
receive support for their research projects.
The other partner, the ‘UK Resource Centre for Women in Science’ was
launched in September 2004 to work with employers, professional bodies and
women to remove barriers that stop individuals working to their full
capacity. The Government has backed the Centre with nearly £7 million.
The collaboration between the Centre and L’Oreal
is part of the Centre’s Returners Programme. We need not only more women
going into SET careers, but also the removal of ‘sticky floors’ and ‘glass
ceilings’ which prevent them from reaching senior positions.
I am delighted to announce that L’Oreal UK is to
sponsor three female returner bursaries in partnership with the Resources
Centre. The bursaries will be for £10,000, with £5,000 from each partner.
Any women scientist with a PhD who has taken at
least a 12-month break will be eligible to apply. The winners will have
set out a clear case for how they would spend the bursary to assist them
in furthering their scientific research while L’Oreal and the Resource
Centre will monitor the progress of the recipients.
This is a really excellent initiative and I am
sure that it will be a big success. As Deputy Minister for Women with a
responsibility for encouraging women entrepreneurs in whatever field of
endeavour I am delighted to be the one to officially launch it.
I am hopeful that with L’Oreal and the UK Resource
Centre working in partnership we will be able to encourage many women
graduates back into science, letting their talents bloom for their
benefit, their employers, and the country as a whole.
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