Toolkit aims to boost recruitment of women


A toolkit that aims to help end outdated employment practices that disadvantage women in the recruitment process has been put forward by an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).


At the end of January, the Women and Work APPG published How to recruit women for the 21st century, based on information provided by organisations in the public, private, and voluntary sectors.


The Women and Work APPG was created in 2016 and its focus throughout 2018 was to look at how best to recruit women in the modern workplace.


The resulting report gives practical advice to employers on how to advertise posts, how to draw up job descriptions and how to ensure that they are able to retain their female staff. 


Labour MP Jess Phillips, co-chair of the group, said: “If employers are to successfully hire and attract the best, diverse talent, they need to take recruitment seriously and review their processes.” 


And she said that the toolkit “encourages employers and policy-makers to make those changes, giving practical steps that will go some way in shifting persistent obstacles that women face when entering and re-entering the labour market”. 


Other recommendations made by the group include returnship programmes to train women and other returners after a long period out of work. 


And the report suggests setting up a diversity fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises offer coaching and mentoring to women.

https://www.rec.uk.com/news-and-policy/press-releases/women-and-work-appg-takes-recs-recommendations-in-how-to-recruit-women-for-the-21st-century