The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) is to partner with Women in Recruitment (WIR) in an initiative that will give professional recruiters the ability to make the most of the female talent in their businesses.
The initiative will be officially launched at an event on 15 April, supported by both Barclays plc and Squire Patton Boggs and will be overseen by an Executive Committee including Ann Swain, Chief Executive of APSCo, Natasha Clarke, Managing Partner at SThree who established the 'Identity programme' for SThree, designed to support the development and progression of women within the organisation- and who will chair the committee, and Nicola Mullarkey from The Honest Recruiter.
Commenting on the initiative, Ann Swain said: “The talent pipeline in many recruitment organisations continues to leak women - often at a time when they can add most value to the business. This programme is designed to provide training, professional development and networking opportunities for women in recruitment as well as toolkits for business leaders to encourage best practice. We’re announcing this initiative hot on the heels of yesterday’s International Women’s Day – whose 2015 theme - “Make It Happen” sits very well with our commitment to making this programme one which will drive positive change throughout the UK workforce. If we can educate the professional recruitment sector to get its own house in order in relation to positive women aware practices and policies – then recruitment firms will be in a great position to advise their clients on related best practice.”
The programme is kicking off with an academic research project, supported by Westminster Business School, the aim of which will be to address the reasons why talented women leave professional recruitment organisations before they maximise their potential. An update on the research will be available at the launch event.