Tuesday 30 January 2006 - 12.00hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service is delighted to have been
recognised for its efforts to encourage women to succeed.
Minister for Women, Ruth Kelly today praised the service for
signing up to the Exemplar Employer scheme.
Under the initiative the organisations involved have to show
clear commitment to reducing the gender pay gap and promoting
better work-life balance.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service has been recognised for its
programme to get more women into leadership roles within the fire
service.
In October last year Avon Fire & Rescue Service held the
Women as Leaders conference, examining the issues faced by women in
the workplace and the changing roles of women within the fire
service.
Business Services Manager for Strategic Planning and
Communication, Lorraine Abrahams said: ‘we were the first fire and
rescue service to hold a conference specifically aimed at women in
the service. We are aiming to be a reflection on society, so the
workforce and senior management boards of all fire and rescue
services should recognise this.
‘The conference was a really successful event with fire services
from across the globe involved in shaping the future. We now hope
other fire and rescue services will adopt the same approach and
encourage more women to succeed.’
Initiatives that have been adopted by Avon Fire & Rescue
Service:
- flexible working hours
- childcare vouchers, with the possibility of childcare
facilities in the future
- equal opportunities to progress into senior operational roles,
with the former glass ceiling now removed
- positive action campaigns targeting women and members of the
black and ethnic minority communities
- Presentations with school children, actively encouraging the
females to think about a career in the fire
service