Equality and diversity good practice fund: Raising aspirations of underrepresented groups

30 October 2015

Chris Brill, Senior Policy Adviser

http://www.ecu.ac.uk/goodpracticefund/

Raising aspirations

“My message to everyone I meet is: no matter who you are, or where you are from, or what career you want to undertake, an apprenticeship can help you achieve what you want in your career and in your life.”

Sue Husband – Executive Director of the National Apprenticeship Service at SFA

Overview

= What do the statistics say?

= How can we respond to the challenge?

= Top tips for developing a successful initiative

The challenge 7% 35% 56% 63% 79%

Business, Administration and

Law

Health, Public Services and Care

Retail and Commercial Enterprise

Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies

Leisure, Travel and Tourism

The challenge 7% 35% 56% 63% 79%

Business, Administration and

Law XHealth, Public

Services and Care XRetail and

Commercial Enterprise X

Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies X

Leisure, Travel and Tourism X

How do you raise aspirations?

EDGPF: Raising aspirations

= Go For It!: Challenging stereotypical career choices through apprenticeships

‒ CPD event‒ Career profiles ‒ Interactive event‒ Short video‒ Training activities

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CHALLENGING GENDER STEREOTYPES

Overcoming gender stereotyping in careers:

• Challenge how you or others have developed assumptions about male and female job roles• Use careers information to look at what specific jobs involve (e.g. interests, skills, abilities,

qualifications etc.) and make informed decisions based on who you are and what you would like to do• Find information and support to help you develop your interests. This could include doing work

experience, college shadowing days, enterprise initiatives, attending conferences etc• Seek out positive role models in the career you are considering and ask if they would ‘mentor’ you • Look at labour market information to see what the balance of male to female employees is. If there is

a gender imbalance look at links to ‘Professional Bodies’ to see how this is being addressed through information and initiatives. (e.g. see information given within the National Careers Service Job Profiles under ‘More Information’, ‘Opportunities’ and ‘Job Market Information’ sections)

• By doing an apprenticeship or vocational course you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills and abilities to show you are the right person for the job irrespective of your gender

© Bournemouth & Poole College 2015

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CHALLENGING GENDER STEREOTYPES

These are useful websites that challenge gender stereotypes in careers with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Some include video career profiles that look at success in overcoming personal challenges related to gender stereotyping:

• Future Morph • Career Box • icould • Wise • NGRF

© Bournemouth & Poole College 2015

EDGPF: Raising aspirations

= Women in security: changing pathways, changing perceptions

‒ Network of women mentors‒ Engagement with local schools‒ Workshops‒ Best practice toolkit

Top tips: partnerships with schools

‘When linking projects with schools is it beneficial to target schools in the summer with the aim to delivering projects in the autumn. Schools and teachers generally prepare lesson plans over the summer for commencement in the autumn term. The autumn term, September to December, is also a preferred time for schools to deliver careers fairs, trips and projects. Timetables become a bit more rigid in the spring and exams in the summer lead to external activities being less favoured.’

‘Getting schools to attend workshops was difficult, but going to the schools to deliver mini sessions was achievable.’

EDGPF: Raising aspirations

= Challenging gender stereotypes in STEM apprenticeships

‒ Worked with local employers‒ Promoted role models‒ Careers advice‒ Annual careers event‒ Marketing

Success stories / Career Profiles

= Careers South West‒ Overcoming barriers faced by young people with LDD

on entry to FE sectors

= Grantham College‒ Advancing equality for disabled learners in workplace

learning

= Myerscough College‒ Supporting female apprentices

Tips to raise aspirations of under-represented groups

= Work in partnership with schools and employers‒ Curriculum

= Promote success‒ Role models

= Develop inclusive information, advice and guidance‒ Careers events, taster days

= Conduct an on-going, inclusive, marketing campaign‒ Social media

Developing a successful initiative

Top tips: developing a successful initiative

1. Respond to or develop an evidence base 2. Work collaboratively with:

‒ Learners‒ Internal/external partners

3. Clearly designed project plan‒ Timeline of activities ‒ Review outcomes

Questions and answers

Future events

= Engaging employers to advance equality in workplace learning

= http://www.ecu.ac.uk/events/equality-and-diversity-knowledge-exchange-webinars/