Women are being given a boost to help them back into the workplace and get the wages they deserve.

Funding will ensure five organisations can help tackle the gender pay gap through workplace training, refresher skills and facilitate work placements for parents and carers.

Minister for Women in the English government, Victoria Atkins MP, said:

For too long, taking time out of work to care for others has cut short careers and brilliant, talented women are unable to re-enter industries which will not support them to return. This is a huge loss not only to those individuals, but to our economy and businesses all over the country.

We are investing in returners to work – giving them the opportunity to refresh and grow their skills and encouraging employers to change their outdated recruitment processes. By taking action on this issue we can grow the economy and achieve true equality in our workplaces.

According to research by the consulting firm McKinsey, bridging the UK gender gap in work has the potential to create an extra £150bn on top of business-as-usual GDP forecasts in 2025 and could translate into 840,000 extra female employees.

Benefactors of the funding include Women Returners, Changing Lives, St Helens Chamber, Creative Equals and Back2businessship delivered by f1 Recruitment.

Julianne Miles, Managing Director of Women Returners, who received £110,000, said:

We are delighted that this government funding will enable us to kick-start a much-needed initiative to enable legal professionals to resume their careers at a suitable level after an extended career break.

Women Returners, in partnership with The Law Society, will pilot Law Returners, a cross-company returnship in Manchester and Leeds in early 2019. The aim is to create a sustainable business-led model to apply across other regions.

A further £1 million of funding will be awarded later in the year as part of the governments Returners Fund.

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