Welcome - by Carolyn McCall - CEO The Guardian Media Group

This report came in response to the Women and Work Commission’s review ‘Shaping a Fairer Future’, which analysed the issues and made recommendations to address both the gender pay and opportunities gaps in the UK. 

One of the recommendations was that the Government identify Exemplar Employers who were doing innovative work around opportunities for women and who were willing to share their expertise with others.

Opportunity Now was delighted to be selected to take forward this recommendation as our work is very much about sharing good practice and working with  employers to change work cultures and practices to be inclusive, creating tangible business benefits.  Good employment practices benefit both women and men, and have direct and tangible business benefits. When employers get this right, it is win/win for all.

It is vital for organisations to learn from each other and I would like to thank all of those who have taken part and been so generous in sharing their experiences and challenges. This resource includes many inspiring case studies and provides a valuable reference for any employer looking for ideas to tackle the barriers facing many women (and men) in their own workplace.  There is a great diversity of ideas including carer’s networks, programmes to help returning mothers and shadow management boards.  As well as examples from large multinationals, there are also ideas and programmes from SMEs.  I hope it provides inspiration for action.

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, Guardian Media Group and Chair of Opportunity Now

 'Shaping a Fairer Future'

In their March 2006 report to the Prime Minister, ’Shaping a Fairer Future’, the Women and Work Commission recommended that the Government  bring together a group of Exemplar Employers to share best practice and act as role models for others.  Exemplar Employers committed themselves to reducing the gender pay and occupation gaps through projects, such as, encouraging women to find out about and enter into jobs traditionally done mostly by men; supporting mothers to return to work; and creating better quality opportunities for staff working part-time. 

Since the project started in July 2006, over 100 organisations have become Exemplar Employers, working on one or more of the following key areas identified by the Women and Work Commission:

Ÿ         Equal pay

Ÿ         Flexible working

Ÿ         Occupational segregation

Ÿ         Training and career paths for women

Ÿ         Women returners, including quality part-time work

Events were held to bring together the Exemplar Employers and to share their knowledge and expertise with a wider audience.  These included a conference organised by Business in the Community Northern Ireland in Belfast in November 2006, where leading Exemplars participated in a forum with individual presentations and information about their programmes. 

At the end of January 2007 the Ministers for Women, the CBI and Opportunity Now hosted an event where more than 50 delegates heard presentations from Exemplar Employers.  Discussion focused on how the Government could work with employers and, in particular, how best to address the lack of quality part-time work and break down occupational segregation.

In May 2007 Opportunity Now hosted a major conference in London where over 100 participants heard speeches from the Minister for Women and the former Chair of the Women and Work Commission.  There was also a panel discussion about what really works in driving change.

In addition, 4 e-newsletters have been circulated by the Women and Equality Unit.  These profiled some of the Exemplar programmes and new Government initiatives, such as the Quality Part Time Work Fund.

As the level of take-up demonstrates, there is a huge appetite for change and to share best practice.  This report and the case studies provide a wealth of information on what really works at grassroots level.  They also show that change is possible regardless of the size of organisation:  many small businesses have just as innovative projects as global multinationals.