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EVENTS: Scotland and UK wide

Posted on August 8, 2014

In this post you will find a selection of up and coming events and programmes relating to gender equality and women's participation in the labour market.

Women in Renewable Energy Scotland (WiRES)

WiRES is a network for women working, or who would like to work, in the renewable energy sector in Scotland. Our aim is to support women's participation in the sector through information, education, and networking opportunities.

Pelamis Wave Power Ltd., Leith, Edinburgh

August 29, 10.00am-1.00pm

Book your place now

We are pleased to organise a site visit for women to Pelamis Wave Power, the world’s most advanced wave energy technology company.

We will hold a presentation/Q&A session, followed by a tour of the facilities, including Control room, Fabrication bay, and Component testing/hydraulics bay.

Please register your interest below. The agenda will be confirmed in due course.

Networking Event

September 25, 12.30pm-2.30pm - Edinburgh

Book your place now

We are delighted that Judith Patten will attend our September event in Edinburgh which will be an opportunity for networking and information sharing in a relaxed atmosphere.

Judith is the founder of All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable energy event, and winner of Scottish Renewables' Outstanding Contribution award 2012.

Venue and agenda will be confirmed in due course.

ENGENDER

Engender hosts a range of conferences, seminars, round-tables and discussions to explore women’s inequality, and share strategies to challenge it.

Some of events are members only, but all are welcome at their public events.

Gender equality, the referendum and beyond

Scottish Youth Theatre, Forsyth House, 111 Union Street, Glasgow G1 3TA.

August 30, 2014, 10.30 – 12.30

Scottish Youth Theatre, Glasgow

Book for this event

Engender is joining with our friends at Close the Gap, Electoral Reform Society Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid to hold a second 'constitutional cafe' on gender equality and the independence referendum, on 30 August.

Inspiring Women

Inspiring Women events bring Engender members together to consider and discuss feminist issues. They are women only spaces, and give women the opportunity to talk about their own ideas and perspectives.

Inspiring Women: masculinities

September 20, 2014, 11.00 – 13.00

Room 3, STUC, Glasgow

Masculinities and men are not the same thing. Masculinities refer to gender relations, the position of men and how people engage with that position. It is a commonly held belief that masculinity is innate and cannot be changed but there is significant evidence that there are multiple masculinities and that these change over time and that they are subject to influence.

This session gives Engender members an opportunity to reflect on the predominant masculinities in Scotland to day and how feminists can best engage with theories and practice around masculinities.

Only members can book this event. If you are a member of Engender, please sign in now to book.

Inspiring Women: Pornography and new media

The rise of the Internet and increased use of social media has provided millions of consumers with the opportunity to purchase and view pornography almost anonymously, and to share and abuse personal images.

November 15, 2014, 11.00 – 13.00

The Melting Pot, Edinburgh

This session offers an opportunity for Engender members to discuss the implications and consequences of pornography in the digital age.

Only members can book this event. If you are a member of Engender, please sign in now to book.

EQUATE SCOTLAND

Established in 2006, Equate Scotland is Scotland’s expert in gender equality in the fields of science, engineering, technology and the built environment. Based in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University we work across Scotland in education and employment.

Helping female engineers and their employers realise their full potential

This Autumn: A free three–day Career Enhancement Programme designed for women working in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Teacher Building, 14 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DB

Day 1: 30 September 10am - 4.30pm

Day 2: 30 October 10am - 4.30pm

Day 3: 26 November 10am - 4.30pm

It provides in-depth career development one day a month over three months, focusing on:

  • identifying achievements and strengths
  • building skills for effective communication
  • unlocking leadership potential

The programme provides opportunities that will benefit both employers and employees from the engineering/advanced manufacturing sectors.

Find out more about the programme

Apply for a place

Scottish Women’s Convention Referendum Conferences

Do you have enough information to make an informed decision?

Have the two campaigns addressed your issues?

This is an opportunity for women to engage with YES Scotland and Better Together representatives in their local area.

Saturday 16th August, 10am - 1pm, Orkney

Come along and ask your questions to both campaigns.

If you would like to attend any of these events or would like more information please email info@scottishwomensconvention.org.

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Close the Gap newsround (48)

Posted on August 8, 2014

This edition for July and August captures articles related to the gender pay gap and its causes, including pay discrimination and occupational segregation.

Tags: flexible working UK International pensions equal pay occupational segregation women in stem gender stereotypes
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Gender equality, the referendum and beyond: Constitutional Cafe

Posted on July 25, 2014

Close the Gap are joining forces with our friends at Engender to host a discussion event on women and the referendum. This ‘constitutional café’ will be held at the Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow, on 30 August from 10.30-12.30.

Aimed at undecided women and men with an interest in gender equality issues, this event will bring people together to talk about the implications for women's rights and gender issues post-September 18th. Discussions will be shaped by participants, and focussed around the questions:

Close the Gap will be hosting discussions that focus on the theme of women and work, and you’ll be able to pick up a copy of our new paper on constitutional futures and women and work.

There will also be a chance to chat informally to activists from Better Together and Women for Independence, on gender, equality, women's rights and social justice issues, over a cup of tea.

We hope this event will provide an open space for wide-ranging conversation around issues of gender, rights and equality. Anyone with an interest in gender equality is welcome, and you can register for the event here.

We hope to see you there.

Tags: indyref close the gap Scotland
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New online toolkit helps small businesses grow

Posted on July 22, 2014

Close the Gap are pleased to announce the launch of their pilot project, Think Business, Think Equality. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the project’s focus is on helping small and medium sized businesses across Scotland to grow, by realising the business benefits of delivering fairness and equality in the workplace.

Think Business, Think Equality

Having fair and flexible working practices in place makes good business sense. Higher staff morale contributes to reduced absenteeism, enabling businesses to be more productive and innovative. Where staff feel valued, businesses are rewarded with increased loyalty and reduced staff turnover costs.

Businesses that promote gender equality are likely to be more profitable. Evidence shows that having increased in diversity enhances a company’s ability to market effectively to a wider customer base. Having a balance of male and female staff also delivers a positive corporate image, enabling businesses to attract and retain the best staff.

The recent extension to the right to request flexible working to cover all staff with 26 weeks’ service provides businesses with the ideal opportunity to review their current practices, and see how they might be improved.

Close the Gap’s experience has shown that, while many smaller businesses are largely positive about equality, they are concerned that this may be prove to be a complex, time-consuming and costly process. Think Business, Think Equality shows that this is not the case, and that making even a few small changes to your employment practice can allow your business to reap the benefits of gender equality.

Free online self-assessment tool

Think Business, Think Equality offers an easy to use online, self-assessment tool that allows businesses to reflect on their current practice and identify where they might make changes, or simply refresh, their current practice.

The tool focuses on five business topics: workplace culture; women’s jobs, men’s jobs; flexible working; pay and reward; and progression and promotion. Each topic area consists of a series of short questions, guidance, and additional information, and should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete. The guidance is also available to download at the end of each section, allowing employers to refer back to it whenever required. Participating businesses can also access free, confidential support or advice from Close the Gap throughout the duration of the pilot to help them identify where they can benefit from a more diverse workplace.

The toolkit is now available to use here

Further information on the project, and any requests for support can be emailed to: thinkbusiness@closethegap.org.uk

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Right to request flexible working has been extended to all employees

Posted on July 1, 2014

As of yesterday the right to request flexible working has been extended to all employees in the UK.

In Scotland, this means more than 2.5 million workers will now have a right to request flexible working (provided they have worked in their organisation for at least 26 weeks). Prior to this only parents with children under the age of 17 (or 18 if the child is disabled), and those with certain caring responsibilities had the right to request flexible working.

The right to request is only that. Employers can still refuse a request but must have a sound business argument for doing so. Flexible working requests are a permanent change to working conditions and can include part-time working, compressed hours, job sharing, and homeworking etc. Despite many employers having a flexible working policy the uptake of flexible working in many workplaces is low, and is almost non-existent in more senior positions.

Lack of flexible working is one of the key causes of the gender pay gap. Women are more likely to have caring responsibilities for children, sick relatives, disabled people, or older people, and are therefore keen to secure flexible working in order to balance work with caring responsibilities. However, many women are afraid of what will happen to their career path if they try to work part-time, or ask to work flexibly, because they see few role models at senior levels doing this. There is also a perception that part-time workers are seen as uncommitted, unambitious, and unproductive. In many sectors, and for most job roles, it is extremely rare for jobs to be advertised on a part-time basis. This can act as a barrier to women seeking progression and promotion, and to applying for jobs in specific fields for which they are skilled.

However, for employers there are a number of benefits to providing good flexible working practices. Recent research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that when employers adopted flexible working practices there was a ‘positive impact on staff motivation and morale’ and importantly it helped to retain valuable skills and talent that would otherwise be lost to the business.

Perhaps the new regulation will support a change in attitude towards flexible working and challenge the rigid orthodox 9-5 working culture in Scotland and the UK. However, the extension to this statutory right must be administered and monitored effectively in the workplace so as not to have a detrimental impact on any individuals or groups of workers.

Acas have produced a code of practice to help employers administer flexible working requests and to make sure they consider the business benefits to supporting individual requests.

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