The government has announced a £1.5m fund to support people back into work, after time out caring, saying it could help close the gender pay gap.
The fund will pay for projects, which help returners update their skills, provide other training, or support businesses to increase employment opportunities for returners. A guidance and toolkit has also been created to support companies that would like to employ returners.
Launching the fund, Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, Amber Rudd, said: “It is truly striking that nearly 90 per cent of people out of paid work because they are caring for the home or family are women. That is a huge loss not only to those individuals, but to our economy and to businesses all over the country.”
If you’re interested in reading more on this subject, from how employers can help women successfully return to work to the best ways to support women on maternity leave, here’s our must-read round up:
Emily Plosker, a senior associate at Brahams Dutt Badrick French LLP, looks at what employers can do to help women re-entering the job market
Matthew Smith a Principal in the legal directorate of the EHRC looks at the business case for supporting women who are pregnant or on maternity leave.
