1. Thematic Network WEED Women, Enterprise and Employment in Local Development 1° Steering Group Meeting Phase II Brussels 26/27 March 2009 European Commission

2. Structure of presentation WEED and the European questions Local mapping and shared themes Local mapping - enterprise, knowledge economy and employment Recommendations for LAPs How can TN work help? A two way activity

3. Baseline Report - Europe Limited scope of change in Europe Non recognition of womens key role in sectors that can affect citys attraction - service and science - skilled and unskilled Underdevelopment of infrastructure for womens contribution to growth Few women scientists outside the academy Lack of integration between growth and jobs agenda and equalities agenda

4. Baseline Report - local mapping Shared problems, shared agendas Potential for WEED to – Provide ideas on which policies and interventions work – Show how interventions can be implemented locally – Develop cycle of action, reflection and evidence- informed change for local and European level

5. Our three sub themes/ areas for action Effective support for womens locally relevant entrepreneurial activity is necessary to increase the market integration of women and reduce the risk of gender inequalities in self employment Improving the ways that women can gain and translate formal science/ technical qualifications into employment assets would enable more women to enter higher level occupations in the ICT and knowledge intensive sectors Improving the quality of work for women in private and social enterprise sectors is necessary to make cities more attractive places to live and invest in.

6. Clusters Shared interest around all three sub themes BUT Clustering offers chance to address local priorities more effectively Clusters reflect strengths and weaknesses, possibilities and problems May be useful way to focus ideas of possible project proposal outcomes

7. Enterprise mapping - change desired 1. Using enterprise as way of labour market insertion 2. Municipal commitment to increasing participation of women in economic development and planning, and improved municipal support for women entrepreneurs 3. Better support for small social enterprises at and beyond start up, and for women entrepreneurs in citys growth areas 4. Increased confidence amongst girls and women to set up and run SMEs, and better promotion of womens entrepreneurship and confidence in entrepreneurial capacity Cluster: Karvina, Crotone, Enna, Medway

9. Recommend Local Action Plans focus on actions to:- Increase womens presence in better paid work at time of global and local economic crisis Develop local plan for resources to reconcile work and family life Measures to overcome stereotypes of men and womens work and family roles where the traditional industry base is changing Measures to make partnerships between Municipality and NGOs more effective in improving types of jobs and career development for women Do we want to concentrate on fewer?

10. How can TN exchange help? By exploring experiences of:- – Tools and agencies that increase womens involvement in private and social enterprise at times of economic growth and stagnation – Effective partnerships between public, NGO and private sector in supporting womens enterprise (municipalities, banks, enterprise agencies) – Methods used to develop new areas for womens enterprise (e.g. artistic artefacts allied to tourism, agro food industry, new media, care, heritage) – (Programmes to break stereotypes of women and business)

12. Recommend Local Action Plans focus on actions to:- Co-ordinate municipal and private sector support for women graduate clusters Create or develop closer links between IT and entrepreneurship programmes Improve match between skills learning and new opportunities in knowledge based economy – in city and rural area Do we want to concentrate on fewer?

13. How can TN exchange help? By exploring experiences of:- Experience of Municipality and University working together to research possibilities for making women entrepreneurs in rural hinterland of city more efficient Developing technological and science parks and examining how that could draw more on womens skills ICT training for lower level workers entering knowledge intensive industries

14. Mapping jobs - change desired 1. Better conciliation of work and family life locally 2. Increased support to enhance social enterprises as a source of employment, partic in areas of deprivation 3. Improved career possibilities for women working in the private and NGO sectors Cluster: Amiens, Alzira

16. Recommend Local Action Plans focus on actions to:- Create and sustain entrepreneurship amongst socially and economically disadvantaged women as means of labour market insertion and economic development Develop better municipal level support for womens entry and retention in newer areas of entrepreneurial activities Encourage and sustain training programmes at different ages and stages to change attitude Do we want to concentrate on fewer?

17. How can TN exchange help? By exploring experiences of:- – Developing information and actual resources for reconciling family and work life – The introduction and implementation of official ( municipal, national, legal) commitment to gender equality in employment and labour market insertion programmes – Developing special motivation programmes for short and long term unemployed women of different ages and educational levels. – Developing financial incentives for and partnerships between Skills Council, Economic Development Agencies and local authorities to develop strategy incorporating gender into economic regeneration initiatives.

18. A two way activity Wider outcomes of WEED Providing ideas for policies and interventions Showing how interventions can be implemented locally Developing cycle of action, reflection and evidence- informed change for local and European level

19. For further information Gill Scott Lead Expert – Emeritus Professor - School of Law and Social Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University gill.wilmot1@btinternet.com orgill.wilmot1@btinternet.com Jmsc@gcal.ac.uk