Making a difference to women in Hounslow
We’re excited to share a project that we’ve recently been working on, and it’s one that has the potential to make a real difference for women struggling to find work. In collaboration with London Borough of Hounslow, we’re launching a pilot project to explore targeted interventions to help local women overcome the barriers they face in finding secure employment. It’s a research project where we’ll be engaging with a group of local women to gather their views to help shape a long-term approach that can be rolled out across the borough.
We're so thrilled to be leading this initiative, which is all about creating lasting change, empowering women, and providing them with the support they need to build successful careers.
why this matters
When we look at the employment landscape in Hounslow, like many places in the UK, women still face significant challenges when finding work.
These barriers are especially noticeable in areas facing deprivation, where it can be difficult for women to enter or progress in the workforce for many reasons – perhaps related to their family or relationship circumstances, not being confident in speaking English, holding foreign qualifications that aren’t recognised or easily understood by local employers or facing practical challenges around getting to work on public transport.
The barriers to work faced by women have a significant impact on the economy. Recent research estimates that £88.7bn is lost to Britain’s economy every year – that’s equivalent to the annual contribution of the financial services sector. Women out of work has a significant impact on local economies, and massive implications for someone’s independence, confidence and wellbeing.
our collaborative and tailored approach
Working alongside the council’s skills and EDI teams, we’ll be looking at support that could be offered to help women which may include signposting to support services such as ESOL; introductions to Hounslow employers; skills bootcamps; CV writing support; and workshops to help build their confidence in finding and applying for jobs in the local area.
Through surveys, mini-interviews, and observational research, we’ll build a detailed understanding of what’s holding these women back, whether it’s a lack of skills, confidence or opportunity.
We will also engage with businesses in the area around Heathrow to better understand their recruitment needs and encourage employers to recognise the benefits of employing locally.
looking ahead to a model for broader change
We are proud to be part of this effort, and we’re looking forward to working with businesses, the local community and the council to make this project a success. The insights we gain from this initiative will help inform how we move forward and how we can support women’s employment opportunities on a larger scale.