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
£5 million pa (match funded by employers) is allocated to SSCs, 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. Funding is currently available until March 2011.
This is an England only initiative. 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.
The initiative meets State Aid rules and is covered by the Training Aid Exemption under the General Block Exemption Regulation on the basis of training being of a general nature.
The initiative is a positive action initiative, as permitted by s47 Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as amended.
Eleven SSCs are currently running 13 projects to provide opportunities for women to raise their skills and earning power.
