The economic benefits of a diverse workforce will be the focus of the new WES100 gender balance programme from Women’s Enterprise Scotland.

The programme will bring together 100 men and women to help participants further their careers through boardroom insight and improved leadership skills.

Entrepreneurial Environment

WES100 will create an entrepreneurial environment where women-led businesses can flourish. It will also  collaborate with other business support organisations across the country to help address and close the gender gap in enterprise.

Hosted by Glasgow law firm Dentons, WES100 is targeted at women in Scotland’s technology sector and consists of four training sessions delivered over nine months, with digital based support available across the duration of the programme.

Twenty Tech Spaces

There are twenty places available to women who are currently working in the technology industry. Participants will then share what they have learnt with workplace colleagues.

After the first session, all participants will hold round table discussions with colleagues to identify one action they can collectively deliver to improve diversity and inclusion in their own workplace.

An action plan for this action will then be created and delivered over the following nine months. At the final session, each participant will present their action plan and explain how it has been delivered.

The WES100 programme is funded by the Workplace Equality Fund, which is managed by the Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The Chair of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, Professor Lynne Cadenhead, said:

“Research consistently shows that gender-balanced boards and senior leadership teams produce better business results. Yet just 10% of senior managers in science, engineering and technology are women.

“We are delighted to welcome our first participants in the WES100 programme who will gain new leadership skills and have the opportunity to apply those skills in the workplace by leading round table discussions.”