Hundreds descended upon a convention in Angel this week aimed at getting more women into the work place and coinciding with International Women’s Day.
The Business Design Centre hosted workingmums.co.uk’s exhibition, where companies including Deloitte, H&M and Coca-Cola were looking to recruit women and working mothers in particular on flexible contracts.
Only one in eight board members of Britain’s 100 biggest companies is female, a report for the government by Lord Davies of Abersoch revealed in February, also finding that at the current rate of change it would take 70 years to reach gender parity. The convention’s main goal was to help working mums to realise that they can both go back to work and look after their kids.
Sarah Greene, 27, convention floor manager, said: “We have brought these companies to one place so that women have the opportunity to get all the fiddly bits sorted.
“It can be intimidating trying to come back into the working world if you have been out for a while. This is especially the case for women who have had to take time off to look after their kids.
“We hope to show lots of women that they have the skills lots of companies are looking for.”
Help desks offered advice about job-related queries, ranging from interview technique and curriculum vitae writing to what to wear and how to haggle once you have been offered a job.
Single-mum Afolake Omcara, 29, said: “I came here just to get a job, I don’t care what sector I just want to back into employment. So far it has been very useful.”
In order for visitors to maximise their time, play centres were provided for any kids who needed some entertainment and lunch could be bought in the hall.
Rachel Burbridge, 33, with two kids said: “I haven’t had a job for a while because I have been looking after my two little ones so I was excited when I heard about this.
“I haven’t had anything definite yet but things sound positive with Vodafone. I just want some flexibility.”
In light of the continuing economic fragility, many women at the convention were not selective about whom they work for, they just wanted to start bringing in money. However, many positions were available from the broad range of employers, from short-term contracts to management positions.
Ms Greene said: “Not everyone will get a job out of today, but hopefully everyone will come away from it feeling more confident about securing some form of employment in the future.”
