Women Special Edition 2010

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Career Advice 100s of jobs grad interviews Careers fairs recruiter tips

Women In Power

Engendering Change

Control Your Destiny

2010 PAGE 15

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Mission: to find my place Graduate Careers in Audit

Everyone has their own missions in life. At the Audit Commission, ours is simple: to make sure that public money – all £200 billion of it – is well spent. So as far as missions go, ours is a very big and very important one. It's also incredibly diverse, taking in everything from local government to health to criminal justice.

Vital work, we think you'll agree.

Having doubled the number of graduate places on offer, we're busy creating a national pool of auditing talent. Which means your work could take you just about anywhere. From the word go, you'll enjoy an incredible variety of work and a well thought out mix of on-the-job practical experience. We'll also help you work towards your CIPFA accountancy qualification. And as well as a competitive salary (between £22,938-£30,346 including training supplements), we'll make sure you're given the recognition and rewards your invaluable contribution deserves.

So, what's your mission? Whatever it is, we believe you'll find a way to achieve it through a career with us. Find out more at www.whatisyouraudit.com/mission

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Dee Pilgrim, Editor Editorial Editor Dee Pilgrim Designer Yang Ou Design Intern Nathan Nightingale Senior Reporter Catherine Watson Online Brett Singer

2009 is the 81st anniversary of women gaining the vote in the UK. After all this time you’d think sexual equality, gender stereotyping, and the ‘glass ceiling’ for women’s career aspirations would have ceased to be issues. However, the statistics show sexist attitudes most definitely still exist and differences in wages between men and women are significant.

According to a report by the Fawcett Society, mothers-to-be and new mothers experience the biggest discrimination in the labour market. Women still make up only 11 per cent of the FTSE 100 Company directors, while women working full-time are paid on average 17 per cent less than men. It’s time companies woke up to the fact not only employing but also promoting women can bring significant benefits as their working methods tend to be very different from those of men. These different perspectives have an ‘added value’ effect. TEN celebrates the many female graduates now moving into job sectors previously dominated by men, including business, law and engineering, and shows women don’t have to join the boys’ club in order to get on.

Finally, if you have any comments about the magazine, or you would like some careers advice, feel free to drop us a line at editor@realworldmagazine.com.

Sales Paul Wade Marketing & Distribution Zoe Bowthorpe

Client Services Manager Louise Ashcroft Managing Director Darius Norell Real World 22-26 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ Tel: 020 7735 4900 Fax: 020 7840 0443 info@realworldmagazine.com www.realworldmagazine.com for job vacancies, careers advice and case studies.

Copyright © 2009 Cherry Publishing No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher. We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs or for material lost or damaged in the post. The views in this publication or on our website are not necessarily those held by the publisher.

in this issue...

4 WOMEN IN POWER

seems gloomy, the recession may actually

The days of men dominating the engineering industry are beginning to fade. Thanks to

benefit women in the long-term. Whereas previously women were not considered for

some serious investment by companies within the sector, women are entering the profession at all levels – right up to the boardroom.

senior positions, the seismic shift in global business practice will create real opportunities for them to advance as companies explore alternative working methods.

6 CASE STUDIES An engineer and a fire fighter describe what it is like working in a ‘man’s’ world.

8 TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY Women have always been poorly represented in the corporate world, both in the board-room and on the pay register.

Women are not expected to fare well in the recession either: governments are more likely to protect jobs in typically masculine fields like manufacturing and the motor industry, while the female dominated catering and retail industries flounder. Although today’s forecast

10 ENGENDERING CHANGE While the number of women admitted to law is increasing five times faster than the rate for men, it is still a male dominated field. Four women with significant experience in law -Cherie Booth, Tricia Chatterton, Nancy Brown and Kate Baldwin --give their take on the gender issue.

13 and 14 CASE STUDIES Women working in traditionally male areas detail their experiences in the workplace.

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women in power | overview

Women In Power The days of men dominating the engineering industry are beginning to fade. Thanks to some serious investment by companies within the sector, women are entering the profession at all levels – right up to the boardroom. What’s more, Real World is co-hosting ‘Women in Power’, a groundbreaking event sponsored by RWE npower to support women thinking about working in historically male dominated industries.

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women in power | overview

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hen it comes to gender equality in the workplace great strides have been made in virtually all professions. Take, for example, the engineering sector: historically it was heavily male dominated, but slowly things are beginning to change, from women taking on apprentice roles, to female executives in the boardrooms.

However, the pace of change frustrates many women and is not helped by the public perception of the engineering profession. According to Women in Science, Engineering and Construction, 54 per cent of young females believe that engineering work takes place in a ‘dirty’ environment and that it is uninteresting and does not pay well. Paradoxically, the same body of research reveals that the older female population values the importance of science, technology and engineering – heralding these industries as some of the best opportunities for the next generation.

Year after year, it is reported that girls are producing higher exam results and more young women are going to university. In the last ten years, the number

*Statistics source: Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA)

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number of women at director and senior executive levels, although it remains a challenge to increase the representation of women in its Generation business – traditionally dominated by males.

Despite one or two notable exceptions, most of the senior jobs in the RWE npower Generation buisness are still held by men. However, the ‘brighter futures’ programme from npower, aimed at youngsters from school through to university, means they are seeing an increase in female talent joining. Although this is a long term strategy they are confident their growing reputation for providing opportunities on merit will lead to more women developing into senior Generation roles, in the same way several women have emerged at the top end of npower’s retail and corporate management structures.

‘

Real World's mission is to help prepare graduates for life after university and 'Women in Power' fits this brief perfectly.

Darius Norell

’

In addition to its ‘brighter futures’ programme, RWE npower has teamed up with Real World to host the inaugural

of young women registering on undergraduate degree courses has risen

‘Women in Power’ event. The event’s aim is to talk openly and honestly to female

by 37 per cent*. However, the increase in young women adopting computer

undergraduates about the challenges and opportunities of working in male

science, engineering, and technical courses is minimal. In fact, in the past

dominated industries. It will offer a forum for asking questions and give practical

seven years, the number of women registering for these courses has grown by only one per cent. On a brighter note, the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) reports an increase of nine per cent in women now starting to study for a first degree in engineering.

Once in the workplace, women engineers still often find themselves in the minority, but many organisations have put in place programmes to assist women up the career ladder. At the forefront of implementing such steps is the energy company, RWE npower. Developing female graduates, executives and others with high potential is vitally important to the organisation. Within its retail and corporate functions, it already boasts a

advice for dealing with all kinds of situations that a female graduate may find herself in.

The event is open to graduates from any degree discipline but priority will be given to female undergraduates reading engineering or science related degrees.

Bob Athwal, Head of Graduate Schemes, says: ‘We don’t just enter the debate about women, we are out there actively promoting careers in science and engineering to females of all age groups and backgrounds. While many companies talk about opportunities for women – we provide them.’.

If you would like to learn more about this autumn’s ‘Women in Power' event, visit www.women-in-power.com

»

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A career in HR Make a difference to the future of business Choosing a career in HR puts you at the heart of the organisation, enabling you to make a real difference in influencing business effectiveness.

Get involved in a wide range of opportunities from recruiting and retaining the very best people, to managing change, developing the employer brand or implementing HR best practice internationally.

Support you can rely on As Europe’s largest HR and development professional body you can rely on our qualifications, membership and a wealth of information resources to successfully launch your career in HR.

Start planning your HR career today Contact the CIPD on 020 8612 6208 Find out more about CIPD’s new online professional development tool www.cipd.co.uk/myhrcareer

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‘Take Control of Your destiny’ Jessica Granatt explores why the future of British business is female.

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omen have always been poorly represented in the corporate world, both in the boardroom and on the pay register. Despite equality legislation and increased maternity rights, the latest European Commission figures, published as part of a new drive for wage equality, state that men earn 21 per cent more than women in the UK, based on the average difference between gross hourly earnings.

Women are not expected to fare well in the recession either: governments are more likely to protect jobs in typically masculine fields like manufacturing and the motor industry, while the female dominated catering and retail industries flounder. Women are also more likely

‘The task now is to restore confidence and credibility. Women’s diverse leadership styles, and their attitudes to risk are among critical factors that will contribute to future success.’

PwC’s Advisory practice leader, Kevin Ellis, agreed that a re-evaluation of business practice will help women succeed: ‘What the recession has demonstrated is that the opportunity for new ideas and doing things differently has never been greater.

People are more open to new approaches and it’s easier to see the business case for change.’

Supporting women is in PwC’s and other companies interest, as research by Catalyst shows companies with

to have family commitments that make it difficult to work overtime and avoid company redundancies.

more women board directors and women corporate officers have a higher financial performance than

Although today’s forecast seems gloomy, the recession may actually benefit women in the long-

those with little female representation. Gita Patel explained that when women are overlooked for senior

term. Whereas previously women were not considered for senior positions, the seismic shift in

positions, it harms both them and their employers. ‘If you haven’t focused on talent when appointing your

global business practice will create real opportunities for them to advance as companies explore alternative working methods. Earlier this year, at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ International Woman’s Day event, all the speakers agreed that women can use the current climate to their advantage.

Headlining the event was entrepreneur Gita Patel, director and co-founder of Stargate Capital and business fund Trapezia, which solely invests in businesses with a female interest or focus. She explained that women will have a key role in rebuilding the financial sector: ‘Though men and women may operate in the same profession, there are key gender-specific differences in terms of strengths and contributions that are a reflection of their attributes. Consequently, they may perform the same task but approach aspects of the task differently. Our purpose should be to capitalise on this difference.

board, then it will be to the detriment of your entire business. Identify the skills and qualities you want in a leader and nurture that talent for the boardroom. Less than 2.5 per cent of venture capital goes to women entrepreneurs. We need to improve access to capital, to markets, and to business networks.’

Although it is the responsibility of the business world to provide more opportunities, women can make a real difference by supporting each other. Once women hold high up positions in a company, other female employees are statistically more likely to succeed.

Networking and mentoring schemes should play an important part in women’s future success. Gita Patel concluded with this quote: ‘I have a legacy to leave; you have a legacy to leave. It’s for our children, especially our daughters and the time is NOW. Those who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it…’ n

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Photography: © iStockphoto

gender parity| women in the city

Catalyst’s report on women leaders: http://www.catalyst.org/publication/273/advancingwomen-leaders-theconnection-between-women-board-directors-and-women-corporate-officers

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g n i er d Engen e g n a h c While the number of women admitted to law is increasing five times faster than the rate for men*, it is still a male dominated field. Here, four women with significant experience in law give their take on the gender issue.

Cherie Booth

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Nancy Brown

herie Booth QC is one of the UK’s leading human rights barristers and has carved out a successful career in law appearing in the European Court of Justice, in Commonwealth countries, and as an international arbitrator.

While she can remember a time when many chambers refused to acknowledge women, Cherie says there is still some way to go to ensure equality for both sexes: ‘It’s a simple fact that women are forced to make choices and there shouldn’t have to be a rigid distinction between a career and family life.

‘The two can be compatible if employers adopt a more progressive culture, facilitating flexible working for both men and women. It should be possible to establish a work-life balance without having a huge guilt complex or running yourself into the ground. Having it all might not be feasible, but women can now have a fairly substantial piece of the pie.’

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the law | equal opportunities

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Nancy Brown is head of real estate at Eversheds in Manchester. She reflects on positive change in the legal profession over the last few decades and reinforces the need for more flexible working: ‘The profession has come a long way since I began studying 25 years ago, though there is still more to be achieved. I am a full-time working mum and it’s fair to say Eversheds is ahead of the game, with females making up nearly a quarter of its partnership. We have the most women in senior legal positions out of the top ten law firms in the UK. 'There is still more to be done in terms of promoting and retaining women by using flexible working and investing in technology to aid remote working. With the next generation now coming up through the ranks, women are more determined than ever to gain control of work-life balance. It’s a cultural shift that every level needs to buy in to.’

Tricia Chatterton, regional director of The College of Law, is an ex-lawyer who still works in the field, but whose attention is now focused on training future law professionals. She comments: ‘We are certainly seeing more and more females coming into law, with women now accounting for 44 per cent of solicitors. The

Tricia Chatterton

lack of parity tends to occur higher up the chain, with far fewer female QCs and managing partners in firms, in relation to men.

‘Salaries are still an issue, with more women graduating with better marks but earning around 15 per cent less than their male counterparts in jobs, which is not a statistic that sits particularly comfortably with me.’

The College of Law’s intake reflects the national gender split in the sector, with 62 per cent being female. Although the proportion of female associates promoted to partner level at the top 30 UK law firms rose from 25 to 27 per cent in 2008, this is still a reminder of the lack of female representation at a senior level.

Juggling her work-life balance is something Kate Baldwin is all too familiar with. As a former employment lawyer for Cobbetts LLP, Kate set up wealth management company Xentum in 2004, is a part-time lecturer for The College of Law, and is expecting her second child this November.

Commenting on managing a career and home life, Kate said: ‘Setting up my own business was a solution to successfully achieving a work-life balance, though it is not without its challenges! I have more freedom in my own business and adopt flexible working hours to get the most from employees.

‘There is still more to be done to empower men to work more flexibly given that the percentage of ‘stay at home dads’ is on the increase and bringing up children is no longer a solely female responsibility.’

While all four women agree that a good foundation has been established to promote equality in law, there should be a continued commitment to striving for improvement. Whether it’s a glass ceiling or a sticky floor, promoting the female cause is not something that should be done in isolation. Greater flexibility should apply to both genders, otherwise one sex is always in a position of compromise.

»

Kate Baldwin

*As quoted by The Law Society

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