STIRLING Council’s ‘Women into Work’ project has received a grant of £12,000 from the Scottish Government Returners Fund.

The ‘Women into Work’ project will be delivered by the Council’s Learning and Employability Team and will support those who have taken time out of the workplace for any reason such as having children, caring for others or through illness, but who may not be eligible for other forms of support.

The project aims to address the gender pay gap across the local area by exploring flexible working practices for women returning to work and raising awareness amongst local employers.

Recent figures show that the average male full time worker in the Stirling area earns over £4 more per hour than their female counterparts.

The project will help participants explore their current transferable skills and experiences, career aspirations and overcome possible barriers which are preventing them from returning to work. Advice on job applications and interviews can also be provided.

Stirling Council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Convenor Chris Kane said, “Today’s funding announcement will allow us to offer employability support to those who need it the most. In particular, our Women into Work project will address the gender inequalities facing older women of working age, lone parents and carers, who often find it difficult to return to the workplace.”

The ‘Women into Work’ project is one of six projects sharing £185,000 of funding announced by the Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn today.

Mr Hepburn said: “Evidence suggests there are a number of barriers around women returning to work following an extended absence, with many experiencing a ‘motherhood penalty’ following maternity.

“This government has a commitment to identify and address the issues preventing women re-entering the workforce, particularly rebuilding skills, knowledge and confidence while enabling employers to gain from recruiting and retaining skilled, experienced staff.

“Scotland continues to outperform the UK in terms of female participation in the labour market, however I realise there is more to do to address some of the barriers to work that returners are encountering.”