Coaching, mentoring or sponsorship can help women increase their self-confidence and career success, as well as empowering women to invest in their own self-development.
Businesses need to not just focus on quantitative data but focus on qualitative data to create personalised solutions to support female talent, according to the City & Guilds Foundation recent online event (30th June).
Pertemps Chair Carmen Watson, along with an executive all female panel, explored gender diversity and female inclusion in male-dominated industries.
The discussion, Gender Diversity – a women’s panel, was the latest in a series of webinars held by City & Guilds Foundation, offering thought-provoking conversations about how organisations can take actionable steps to promote and improve inclusion and diversity.
The panel discussion included Alexandra Evreinoff, Managing Director at INvolve, Sonya Byers, CEO at Women in Transport and Charly Young MBE, CEO at The Girls’ Network.
Three in ten businesses (30%) have slightly increased or significantly increased their approach towards gender, according to the CBI and Pertemps latest Employment Trends Survey, but when women enter the workforce, gender gaps persist.
“We need to speak to people in a way that resonates with them. If we talk purely in a male dominated language, we are cutting off a large percentage of women,” said Carmen.
“But all genders need to be involved to understand the issues women face to enhance mutual understanding and drive change. Training needs to be an essential part of the recruitment process, from on-boarding to progression.
“It’s evident there has been significant improvement in the gender diversity realm. According to the Hampton-Alexander review, there are now no zero all-male boards in the FTSE 100, 250 and 350.
“Businesses need to bolster their efforts to understand the issues women and diverse employees face, through leadership, training and development opportunities in order to take meaningful action and address the challenges we collectively face.”