Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative / Employer Investment Fund : Women and Work
The Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative aims to address issues of gender imbalance in today's labour market by supporting women in getting into and on in sectors and occupations where they are under-represented and where specific skills shortages and gaps exist.
It was developed following a Women and Work Commission report 'Shaping a Fairer Future’ published in 2006 which showed evidence that women on average do not progress as well within the workplace as men, in addition to earning less. Women also tend to be less well represented in certain sectors where there is a good potential for high earnings and progression.
From 2006-2011, £5 million per annum from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (match funded by employers) was allocated to Sector Skills Councils, via grant in aid to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, to benefit up to 5,000 women through training, career progression and recruitment projects in England only.
In 2011-12, £2million has been allocated to SSCs to run Women and Work projects under the Employer Investment Fund (EIF). EIF projects are UK wide.
The European Commission regulates State Aid across the EU to avoid distortion of competition within the Common Market. All aid provided under Women and Work will be within the limits set out in Article 38(2) of General Block Exemption Regulations on the basis of training being of a general nature. For more information see the attached (PDF, 24 Kb) .
The initiative is a positive action initiative, as permitted by s47 Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as amended.
Six Sector Skills Councils are currently running projects to provide opportunities for women to raise their skills and earning power.
For more information please contact Heather Archer on 0207 215 1636 or at heather.archer@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
