Equal - Digital Repository

Background

JIVE brings together the most segregated sectors of industry seeking to achieve a more diverse workforce and bottom up equality training organisations experienced in developing and promoting good gender equality practices who will assist them to break down occupational segregation. Continuing and developing the ground breaking work of Let’s TWIST (Train Women in Science, Engineering, Construction and Technology), who lead the partnership, JIVE brings together other equalities experts – the Women’s Training Network and the Equal Opportunities Commission in a unique collaboration with sector skills councils, further, higher and community education organisations.

Aims

The JIVE DP focused on providing inspiration and support for girls and women to pursue careers in the target sectors of engineering, construction and technology. The project tackled the barriers preventing them from pursuing careers in these sectors which are experiencing skill shortages. The project thus tackled gender segregation which is not only unjust in that it perpetuates the gender pay gap, but which also inhibits labour market efficiency.

Objectives

JIVE aimed to break down gender segregation in these sectors by developing and piloting new approaches which tackle the barriers:

• Gender stereotyping in careers advice and recruitment;
  
  
• An unsupportive environment in education and training institutions;
  
  
• The organisational culture and attitudes of businesses;
  
  
• The lack of peer-group support.

Main Outcomes

JIVE built on the expertise of ‘Let’s TWIST’ (Train Women In Science and Technology), who have developed a holistic approach to tackling gender segregation in these sectors. JIVE operated through four regional (London, the South-East, Wales and Yorkshire and the Humber) and one sectoral (engineering construction) hub. It benefited women and girls seeking to enter, or already working in, non-traditional sectors

Bradford College (UK Resource Centre for Women in SET)
www.setwomenresource.org.uk

Information for Transnational partnerships

Action 2: 31 March 2008
Action 3: 31 March 2008

• The JIVE Consortium was successful in winning the contract for the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET). This has enabled the Partnership to have a direct link to policy makers and key influencers
  
  
• The gender awareness staff development offered as part of the JIVE initiative has been influential in changing practice within a range of organisations who have participated in the training. For example, some colleges have designed new publicity and courses for women in construction.
  
  
• INSET event for careers co-ordinators led to the development of a 3 year plan for equality and diversity and many new gender focussed initiatives.
  
  
• Some companies have changed their employment practices following the delivery of a Culture Analysis Tool (CAT) designed by the DP or other specific intervention by the partnership.
  
  
• Some companies such as Bovis Lendlease, ECITB and the IOB have implemented mentoring schemes for women and other positive action good practice following JIVE interventions.
  
  
• JIVE has sat on the steering group of the Equal Opportunities Commission investigation into occupational segregation and has had direct interventions and contributed to recommendations by running focus groups of trades women, and funding and contributing to background research.

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