Resources

Interview with Helen Grant

I set up my first business at the age of eleven, digging up old bottles of antique value in a Victorian dump and selling them to an antiques trader...

Read more

Is it time to follow your heart?

Sadly, nobody can really show you the way or the path to follow. They can guide you, but it’s up to you to do it. The very first thing is to start thinking for yourself...

Read more

Network your way back to work

Combining what you know with who you know may be exactly what you need to land your next job. A general consensus about networking is that it creates a pool of contacts from which you can draw leads, ideas, referrals and information for your job search.

Read more

Law Society supports firms in developing flexible working

Law Society research* highlighted a resistance to flexible working within legal firms as 'the single most significant obstacle to women reaching senior roles’ and women are still extremely underrepresented at partner level despite...,p> Read more

1.09 million women are out of the workforce

Today’s figures* show that 1.09 million women are now out of a job, a seven per cent increase on the same period last year...

Read more

Women's Business Council launched to support women in the marketplace

'For too long we have been overlooking the skills, experience and talents of women," Mrs May said during a speech in London. "Better use of women's skills could be worth billions of pounds to our economy each year.'

Read more

Government and businesses discuss women on boards

Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone met with some of the UK's biggest businesses and the Women on Boards Steering Group yesterday to discuss women in senior boardrooms...

Read more

Pitch Yourself and Flaunt What You've Got!

To celebrate the launch of the flexolution site in November, we are offering free spaces on two career workshops to women living in Kent and its surrounding areas...

Read more

Campaign calls for more women in Government

A new campaign has been launched this week to call on prime minister David Cameron to appoint more women to senior government roles...

Read more

FDM celebrates higher rates of pay for women

FDM Group is proud not only to be exceeding this average salary by providing all of its IT Consultants with a starting salary of between £21,000 -£23,000, but the company also prides itself on its commitment to retaining its female workforce...

Read more

O2 pilots ‘family contract’ for flexible work

“We recognise that family comes first, and we want to make it as easy as possible for our people to be there for their family when they need to be, whilst managing their job responsibilities...

Read more

How to have your pick of the crop

Are you finding it hard to attract good candidates for your vacant positions? Perhaps it’s a problem with perception...

Read more

Sheffield council to settle 900 women in large equal pay case

900 female workers at Sheffield City Council are in line for equal pay awards after the local authority agreed to settle a long-running legal dispute...

Read more

Think. Act. Report. - Theresa May launches initiative to address workplace inequality

Home Secretary Theresa May has launched an initiative to address workplace inequality between men and women through a voluntary reporting scheme called Think, Act, Report...

Read more

Do you speak from Your Head or Your Heart?

In a bid to dazzle and impress interviewers and investors, many job seekers and business owners rely heavily on their head knowledge or intellect and dish out facts and figures which show...

Read more

Sex and Power Report 2011: 5400 women missing from top jobs

If women were to achieve equal positions among Britain’s 26,000 top position of power, the Commission estimates that 5,600 women would need...

Read more

Talent at the school gates

The school gates provide us with a great opportunity to speak to talented mums looking for flexible and part-time roles with local business employers...

Read more

Stay focused on results and keep dreaming

Trying to introduce a new service, concept, initiative or product is not an easy task. I had started to concentrate on the difficulty of the work at hand, instead of focusing on the results and rewards. How did I get to this point?

Read more

Careers education and guidance failing some young people

A new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission indicates that careers education and guidance is failing some young people, particularly disabled people, women and ethnic minorities...

Read more

Government submits periodic gender equality report to the UN.

"The government is committed to equality for women and despite progress over recent decades, there is still a long way to go," commented home secretary and minister for women and equalities Theresa May.

Read more

Women claiming benefits at highest level since 1996

The number of women claiming unemployment benefits has hit its highest level since 1996... The government's policies have not all been bad news for women, however – the Fawcett Society has welcomed proposals for longer parental leave – including for dads – and more flexible working, announced last week, which they believe could be revolutionary if implemented in full...

Read more

Government launches consultation on modern working

“Britain’s workplace laws are in need of modernisation. We have made great strides in addressing explicit discrimination in the workplace, but disadvantage persists. The solution to these challenges, though, is not more bureaucracy, top-down intervention and politically correct quotas, but policies that go with the grain of human nature and maximise flexibility and choice...

Read more

Equality in the workplace

The World Economic Forum look at many different aspects of gender equality and while in terms of health and education the UK performs well, when it comes to career prospects in top level jobs and top pay rates, Britain lags behind. The UK was 15th in the world in 2010, after countries such as Spain, South Africa, the Philippines and Lesotho and...

Read more

Funding for some accredited ITEC courses

Dartford Adult Education has funding available for some accredited ITEC courses...

Read more

The traditional CV is dead!

Smart Opportunities has launched a dynamic workshop titled 'THE CV REVOLUTION'. The first workshop in this 'Get Hired' series will take place on Friday 6th May 2011. Find out more...

Read more

Three Reasons Why Women Don’t Progress???

Well, if all the research and statistics are to be believed we women are a feeble bunch and hugely lacking in confidence! And that lack of confidence in our own abilities is a significant reason in our not applying for the top jobs!

Read more

Flexible working 'great for business

Smart Opportunities for Women is delighted about the government’s commitment to flexible working. We are excited about plans...

Read more

Book to attend the life-changing Renewyou course (£50 off)

You will leave feeling like a new woman, energised and raring to put your plans into action! RenewYou could literally change your life and make your next 12 months your best ever...

Read more

James Bond dresses up as a woman to highlight inequality

Daniel Craig, the James Bond star faces his toughest mission yet - fighting gender inequality in support of International Women's Day...

Read more

London hosts exhibition to celebrate the achievements of women

The remarkable women included in the exhibition are leaders in their fields and have made a significant contribution within their chosen areas...

Read more

Strengthening Women's voices in Government

Today, Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities announced the publication of 'Strengthening Women's voices in Government...

Read more

Ten top assertiveness tips

I wish I had read this article on assertiveness by Jane C. Woods much earlier. I have practised the techniques, and found them really useful...

Read more

Glass ceiling still exists, according to survey

Nearly three-quarters of female managers say they still face gender prejudice that prevents them...

Read more

CIPD calls for right to flexible working

The Charted Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) has urged the Government to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees...

Read more

Nostalgia makes you happy

“Men tend to reminisce about the past as a form of escapism, but women are better at drawing on past experiences to help them with a current dilemma.”...

Read more

Top 50 Women in the Business World

Retaining her spot at the top of the list is Indra Nooyi, chief executive of PepsiCo, followed by Andrea Jung of Avon Products, Guler Sabanci of Sabanci Group and Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods..

. Read more

Campaign to get more female representation in boardrooms launched

A new initiative encouraging UK companies to aim for at least 30% female representation on their boards by 2015...

Read more

Men and Women talk differently.

If you talk to other people and are either a man or a woman, you need to read this! Read more

Equality Act comes into force...

The Act will prevent businesses from using pay secrecy clauses to hide salary differences between men and women...

Read more

Did the Dagenham's women equal pay fight make a difference?

A new film portrays women's battle for equal pay at Ford Dagenham's plant in the 1960's. But how much difference did they make... Read more

Woman becomes first Avon millionaire after being unemployed for six months

A woman swapped unemployment and a council house for a million-pound lifestyle by becoming an Avon lady...

Read more

Increase your Success Rate in Relationships

Relationships with others are central to the human condition; we are all connected to one another in all sorts of ways. If we want to be successful in any area of life we need to be skillful in relationships...

Read more

Fawcett launches legal challenge to government budget

"With a budget that risks rolling back women’s independence a generation, we could no longer stand by"

Read more

Plans to scrap retirement age of 65

Workers will no longer be forced to retire at 65 from next year under radical proposals unveiled by the Government.

Read more

A Life of Enthusiasm

Smart Opportunities speaks to Rachael Rainbow, Production Director at the award-winning digital agency, Cogapp.

Keep your life details safe online!

As the number of unemployed individuals rises, scammers are becoming proactive and targeting those who are keen to get back into work...

Read more

Does your CV stand out?

A good CV is a marketing document or promotional tool which shows prospective employers that an individual has the right skills and experience required...

Read more

What does the coalition government mean for women?

According to the Fawcett society, the new coalition’s ‘programme for government’ and the recent Queen’s speech add up to a mixed-bag for women, with proposals ranging from positive to disappointing to downright disturbing.... Read more

Fabulous free training for women over 50

The Centre for Micro Enterprise (CME) at London Metropolitan University is offering a FREE Training Programme for women aged 50 or over...

Read more

Equal Pay Act: 40 years on

Four decades after equal pay legislation was introduced female workers are still paid 16.4% less on average than their male counterparts...

Read more

Maternity leave for wives of self-employed

The EU is to update an existing law to give standard social protection rights to self-employed workers and the spouses or life partners of self-employed workers... Read more

Microsoft named best place to work in Europe

It is the third consecutive year that the technology giant, Microsoft has come out on top in the list... Read more

Driver training more accessible for men

Employers are failing to provide women with important driver training that is made much more accessible for their male counterparts...

Read more

Woman becomes graduate at 94

A carlifornian woman has proved that age is nothing but a number, and that when there's a will, there's a way... Read more

Fawcett calls for more women in politics

The government should lead a debate on how to encourage more women to enter politics...

Read more

Theresa May now UK's most senior female politician.

Conservative MP Theresa May has become the UK's most senior female politician after being appointed home secretary... Read more

Parliamentary Candidates asked to pledge their support to Women

A survey conducted by equality organisation the Fawcett Society, asked 2,285 parliamentary candidates whether they will commit to supporting a wider action against gender inequality...

Leading the Team

Smart Opportunities speaks to Donna Miller - European Director of HR for Enterprise Rent-A-Car - about her unplanned but successful career in human resources (HR)

Have passion, will travel

Smart Opportunities speaks to Surinder Hundal, Director of Communications at the International Business Leaders Forum, about her career and her approach to business.

Financial sector failing to properly utilise the talents of women.

"We are not saying that had women been in charge, the crisis wouldn’t have happened, but we are highlighting the fact that women are poorly represented in the financial sector, particularly at senior level...

Developing your business career strategy

Successful business communicator and innovator Surinder Hundal shares her experience on developing a career strategy.

The 'Real' Recruiter

Debbie Thrift has more than 20 years in the UK recruitment industry and takes great pride in connecting the right people to the right opportunities. We spoke to Debbie about what it takes to be a first-class recruitment consultant.

Leadership and business training key to getting more women on boards

"That was a rude awakening," said Ms. Howard. "There were 50 percent more men than women getting special attention and special development."...

Newer markets racing ahead with more women at executive level

“Why, in a country where overall female literacy rates are poor, are so many more women making it to the top? While in Britain, with 30,000 more female undergraduates than male ones, women have not..."

Gender Blindness in the Workplace?

I think I had better begin by declaring my bias! I am a feminine feminist: I do not think women need to, or should have to, behave like men to get on in the world of work...

Resilience: Key to Professional Advancement

An Accenture report titled “Women Leaders and Resilience: Perspectives from the C-Suite,” released as part of Accenture’s sixth global celebration of International Women’s Day, found that...

BBC’s Question Time invites women-only audience.

BBC1's politics show, Question Time, will invite a women-only audience on March 11th to coincide with...

Let's Join Women on the bridge

Women perform 66% of the world's work but only earn 10% of income...

How PREPARED are You?

Last year, Yasmina Siaddatan was hired as Sir Alan's apprentice. She believed that she had something to offer, and rather than giving in to fear or allowing the obstacles...

Law firms team up to promote equal opportunities in the workplace.

The country’s top law firms are tackling gender imbalance and promoting diversity at partnership level by coming together...

Council’s bonus system is ‘sexist’

According to a CIPD report, Sheffield City Council could be set for a wave of pay compensation claims...

Making Networking Work for Her (Jackie Groundsell, co-founder 1230)

We speak to Jackie Groundsell - co-founder and co-director of networking business 1230 - and find out a little more about how she did it.

Equalities commission welcomes panel report.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has welcomed a report by the National Equality Panel. The Commission believes that the report is the most detailed research yet... Read more

Review your last 12 months

Most of us are busy at the end of every year with the build up to the festive season swiftly followed by a bout of New Year resolution making. And then we forget them within weeks!

Read more

Report calls for better representation of women in politics

A report by the House of Commons Speakers Conference recommends that compulsion might be necessary for all political parties to increase the representation of women...

Read more

Harriet Harman says broadcast media should value older women

The Equalities Minister repeated criticism of the BBC and other broadcasters for “outdated” discrimination against older women in journalism.

Read more

Government launches Public Leaders training and development courses

The UK Government in partnership with Common Purpose's About Time campaign has launched two 'Public Leaders' training and development courses...

Read more

Government's response to 'pregnancyprotect' petition

We recently supported a petition asking the Prime Minister to ensure that... Read more

Employers optimistic about hiring

Employers’ short and medium outlook for growth in permanent recruitment continues to show some improvement...

The 2009 FTSE Female Report: Discouraging picture for women

The 2009 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management has found that the number of female board members of FTSE 100 companies has remained at 12%, the same level as in 2008...

Government committed to equality

In her opening of parliament speech on the 18th of November 2009, Her Majesty The Queen outlined the government's commitment to equality...

New name...same values!

In order to attract more dynamic organisations, and offer more holistic professional support to women, we have decided to change our name...

Some inspirational quotes that we love....

We believe that you will enjoy these quotes...

October 30 is 'Equal Pay Day'

On the 30th of October, individuals and groups across the country will be taking action to mark...

National Minimum wage increases to £5.80 per hour

According to the Trade Union Congress, about one million workers are to benefit as the national minimum wage... Read more

Women not second best!

A recent study, ‘The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness’ said that women are unhappier now, after 40 years...

Women boxers allowed into the ring for 2012

Women will be allowed to box at the 2012 Olympics for the first time...

Commission consults private and voluntary sector employers on their gender pay gap

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has recently launched a consultation for private and voluntary sector employers with at least 250 staff on how they can measure and report on their gender pay gap...

Swine flu: Pregnant women told to 'work as usual'

The Department of Health has confirmed that pregnant women should carry on going to work as usual... Read more

Employers warned to take precaution.

Employment lawyers have warned that employers who fail to protect their staff... Read more

Discrimination against pregnant (working) women must stop!

30,000 women every year lose their jobs as a result of becoming pregnant...

New Fawcett report finds criminal justice system is 'institutionally sexist'

A new report by Fawcett’s commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System has found widespread discrimination...

I feel very comfortable speaking to people about their finances....

The enforcement sector is often viewed as a ‘man’s world’, but Marston Group is challenging this stereotype...

Can you Change your Life in Thirty Minutes?

When you are finding it hard to motivate yourself, or can’t see a way ahead, try the thirty minute rule!...

More calls for diversity in the boardroom

In a recent Financial Times article titled ‘Are there board benefits to breaking male hegemony?’...

Top employers for working families

To mark its 30th anniversary, Working Families, the UK’s leading work-life balance organisation has published its inaugural list of top employers for working families...

First female Poet Laureate named

Carol Ann Duffy has been named as the new Poet Laureate. She is the first woman to be appointed in the 341-year history of the post...

New Equality Bill announced

Equalities Minister, Harriet Harman has set out landmark plans to end discrimination, making it easier for women to demand equal pay...

Relationships Definition Time (RDT)

Our relationships with people can affect our professional development and influence us positively or negatively...

Advice - who needs it?

Well, to answer that, most of us from time to time. Few of us get by in life without any help at all and advice from a person you trust can be an amazing source of wisdom and professional development...

Judge approves equal pay claims of three female council workers.

Three female Cumbria County Council workers have won the right to press ahead with equal pay claims...

UK resists pressure to opt-out from working time directive.

The UK is continuing to resist pressure to end its opt-out from the EU's maximum 48-hour working week...

First impressions

It is a very old cliché but you never get a second chance to make a first impression. But you do get a chance to revitalise your image and confound people’s expectations of you...

Women highly under-represented in decision-making positions

According to a study by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, male candidates still have a better chance of getting elected despite the fact that there are increasing numbers of female candidates...

Motivate yourself

Motivate Yourself to do well at work, whatever your job! If you find yourself operating below your best at work, lacking in motivation, it will gradually erode your confidence in your abilities and you can be sure someone will notice!

Employ A Woman keen to develop relationships with organisations that share similar values

Employ A Woman is developing useful relationships and alliances with organisations who share similar values, in order to achieve the organisation’s objectives....

Minister says Councils must right the wrong of unequal pay

Local Government Minister John Healey has announced more support for councils to deliver equal pay for thousands of workers, and end years of unfairness...

In celebration of womanhood...

Since the 1900's, women all over the world have observed and celebrated women. There has been a significant change and attitudinal shift about women in the workplace...

VSO campaigning for new agency to help women

In 2009 the UN will be deciding whether or not to create a new Women’s Agency. The UN sets global standards for human rights...

Minister asks Equalities Commission to investigate city bonuses enquiry

Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman has asked the Equality Human Rights Commission to investigate and to decide if city bonuses discriminate against women...

Case for diversity stronger now than ever

At a TUC conference on the 9th of February, General Secretary Brendan Barber argued that the need for equality and diversity-offering fair chances...

Fawcett Society conducting research on lads mags...

The Fawcett society is conducting some research to gather views on the display of lads’ mags...

More families depend on women's incomes...

A recent Trade Unions Congress (TUC) report has shown that more households depend on women's wages than in previous downturns ...

Why the recession is the perfect time for businesses to recruit new female talent

The current economic climate gives businesses where women are currently under-represented, the perfect opportunity to address this issue and achieve their specific diversity goals...

Employers need to be creative about recruiting and retaining talent.

Without any doubt, the recession presents an ideal opportunity for revolutionary businesses to recruit new talent...

Pitch Yourself and Flaunt What You've Got!

Smart Opportunities for Women has launched two FREE innovative workshops for women who want to stand out from the crowd, get hired and manage their careers effectively...

Read more