JIVE

Website: www.jivepartners.org.uk

JIVE, Joining Policy, Joining Practice is an exciting partnership of organisations in England and Wales along with further partners in Europe. Led by Bradford College, continuing and developing the ground breaking work of Let’s TWIST (Train Women in Science, Engineering, Construction and Technology), JIVE brings together 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

JIVE is unique in bringing 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.

JIVE is developing and promoting best equality practice which provides inspiration and support for women and girls interested in or already pursuing careers in the engineering, construction and technology sectors. Giving women access to a wider choice of careers and increasing their earnings potential is vital to overcoming the gender pay gap. Coaching and encouragement is a vital ingredient to ensure women are given sufficient support to succeed in so JIVE is promoting a blueprint for role model mentoring that is being rolled out across the country and with our European partners. New training material has been developed for training our mentoring coordinators so they can effectively develop mentoring schemes in their areas. They are busy contacting women role models working or studying in the sectors and offering them specialised mentor training. This not only equips them with the relevant inter personal skills required to be a good mentor but also addresses how to support women in coping with the specific issues women face in the engineering, construction and technology sectors.

Whilst employers are experiencing skills shortages and there is an increased demand for diverse workforces the learning and employment culture and environment remains hostile to most women, leading to early drop out from courses and difficulties in entering mainstream employment.

JIVE is providing practical solutions for learning providers and careers professionals for breaking down barriers and tackling stereotyping within their professional practice. Through coordinated activity by 5 JIVE regional co-ordinators acting as agents of change are working proactively across 3 RDA regions and Wales. Colleges, universities and work based learning providers are being engaged in one day training events followed up with advisory services to enable them to deliver change in their practice or organisations. So far, successful training events have occurred in throughout the UK.

We are excited by our national infrastructure which is beginning to develop into an innovative and exciting model for collaborative national action to overcoming gender stereotyping.

More information is available from the website.