Maximising the participation of women within the workplace is essential for the future growth of our economy, that was the message to delegates at the recent Women Into Business event.
Delivered by the business network Women in Business NI, the Get Ready to Get Ahead seminar was aimed at helping young women in Northern Ireland to enhance their prospects, whether into employment or self-employment.
The event, which was attended by more than 60 young women, focused on improving confidence, acquiring skills for completing job applications, interview techniques as well as spurring entrepreneurial ideas by hearing success stories from young women who have set up their own businesses.
Women in Business NI CEO Roseann Kelly said: “We wanted to make this particular experience as fun and interactive as possible to give young women a platform to network and share ideas while gaining invaluable advice and inspiration from professionals.”
Addressing delegates at the event, Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said: “Maximizing the participation of women within the workplace is essential for the future growth of our economy and to creating a more equal and vibrant society. I commend the Women into Business programme objectives to support and empower young women into sustainable employment or self-employment.
“Through events such as today delivered by industry experts, young women are provided with employability skills and mentoring tools to equip them with the confidence and drive to explore further training or to re-connect with the labour market.
“The Get Ready to Get Ahead initiative aligns closely with my Department’s programmes which have a strong focus on removing barriers to participating in learning, on widening participation, addressing the issues of literacy and numeracy, and on raising the qualifications and skills levels of those seeking or in employment.”
The Women into Business programme is supported by DEL, the European Social Fund, Invest Northern Ireland, and Women in Business NI.
For more information please visit www.womenintobusinessni.com or find them on Facebook.