07.03.07
Objective One highlights support on International Women's Day

International Women's Day, on March 8th, is marked annually across the world when thousands of events are held to inspire women and celebrate their achievements.

The Objective One Partnership is marking this year's IWD by highlighting some of the women in this region who are succeeding with a variety of support from the Objective One Programme.

Before the Programme began in 2000 it was recognised that, in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, women in particular were under-represented in higher paid and higher skilled jobs. Since then several Objective One projects have been directed solely at empowering women while other mainstream projects have supported many in starting or expanding businesses.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, said: "In an economic regeneration programme it is important to maximise the talent of all people of working age. In Cornwall women have fallen further behind than men, so funding is used to create an even playing field. Women are making a significant contribution to the Cornish economy through business, especially in very small and smaller medium-sized enterprises. For instance, there are more women managers and proprietors in agricultural-based businesses than anywhere else in the UK.

"There is no question that women living in a rural economy demonstrate higher levels of entrepreneurship and have to be more creative in maximising income opportunities in remote local markets. Objective One has supported this entrepreneurial spirit with projects including the Combined Universities in Cornwall and actnow, which has lead to one of the most extensive broadband infrastructures in the UK."

In business Catherine Mead is managing director of Lynher Dairies Cheese Company, based at the family farm near Stithians. Traditionally a dairy farm, Catherine used Objective One EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund) investment make the award winning nettle covered Yarg Cornish Cheese. Now supplied to select national retailers such as Neal's Yard and Paxton Whitfield as well as many supermarket chains, Yarg Cornish Cheese has won a record number of prestigious awards.

Catherine said: "But for Objective One there was absolutely no way that we could have developed this ambitious dairy project. The expectations of our customers are high so too is the product demand. For the project to be successful we required space to meet demand, to expand and develop new products as well as highest possible building specification.

"With the benefit of Objective One we are able to offer our team a programme of continuous training and job progression. Links with the Combined Universities in Cornwall and new Agri Food Innovation Centre will prove invaluable in helping us to upskill and improve all that we can offer our customers."

Mary Mammitzsch graduated from Imperial College, London and after having gained several years of valuable experience in the construction industry in Germany, wanted to return to Cornwall with her young family. Via Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) Mary found a job in what is traditionally a "man's world" - a structural and civil engineering practice. UCP is a Combined Universities in Cornwall project that has received Objective One investment and places graduates with businesses. Run by Cornwall College it offers support to the business and graduate.

Working for Michael Beardsall Associates (MBA), a Truro-based practice that provides a comprehensive range of engineering consultancy services, Mary has developed many skills including structural engineering design and assessment. During the project Mary has also been able to further her professional development by attending presentations and training courses specific to specialist design areas, supported by UCP investment.

Mary said: "Being part of a UCP project has provided me with an opportunity to make a career change, which would otherwise have been extremely difficult. I have received valuable support from my Company Supervisor and UCP Project Manager, with project meetings being a good way to revisit my development and position within the company on a regular basis.

"The construction industry has never been particularly 'touchy, feely' but, through the subjects covered at UCP Peer Group Meetings, I have had the unique opportunity to develop my interpersonal and networking skills."

Allyson Glover, UCP coordinator, added: "Nearly half of the business development projects have been undertaken by female graduates. These are exciting opportunities that make a real impact on the businesses; many of the graduates really flourish when given the opportunity and responsibility to deliver a key development project. Their confidence really grows and they provide a really positive role model for other women within the businesses.

"A degree qualification really helps to break down the traditional barriers of women in the workplace and I am sure we will see many of the female graduates that have gone through the programme in senior management positions in Cornwall in the future."

Fifty percent of participants in Jobcentre Plus European Social Fund (ESF) projects have been women, with over 3000 accessing a range of help from vocational training and skills for employment to motivation and confidence building activities.

Linda McErlain realised a long term ambition of becoming a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver through the Truronian Driver Training project co-financed through Jobcentre Plus and ESF. As a lone parent, Linda was finding it difficult to finding work, however once on the project the only difficulty she had was in reaching the pedals on the training bus. After a few minor adjustments and some top quality training Linda secured a job and can now be seen driving buses in and around Bodmin.

Carolyn Webster, European Programmes Manager for Jobcentre Plus said: "The success of our ESF projects has been due to the individually tailored support they can offer combined with strong links to employers and employment sectors where skills are in demand."

Pat Smith is a former dairy farmer who now owns and runs Bosinver Farm Cottages and scooped the sports and leisure award at last year's (2006) inaugural Cornwall Women of Achievement event.

Pat and husband David took on Bosinver, at Trelowth, near St Austell, when it was a rundown chalet-style holiday village and has built it up into an award-winning enterprise (including gold for the self catering establishment category in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2005 and 2006). A commitment to green and sustainable tourism is part of the fabric of Bosinver which has a zero waste policy and encourages all guests to recycle and compost during their visit.

Pat founded the 'Cream of Cornwall' farm holiday group in 1984 and in 2000 she became a director of the Cartwheel, an Objective One gateway fund which promotes rural tourism and administers a marketing investment programme.

Pat said: "Objective One investment has given me the impetus and support to undertake projects that otherwise would have been outside my usual area of expertise and budget. The investment has encouraged me to gain more skills, unlocking potential resources that I had no prior knowledge of. actnow funding enabled me to connect to broadband, provide wireless access for all my guests, upgrade my PCs and access the expertise of professional SEO input for my website. Cartwheel's practical support and advice has also proven invaluable assisting me with the production of a new brochure and website (which also won an award in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2006) and provided the stimulus to consider professional PR for the first time to promote my business.

"In a broader context – within rural tourism many farmers' wives are juggling many jobs and supporting the family but do not have the skills or professional support needed to promote and run a tourism business. I would therefore say in the context of rural tourism that Cartwheel's Objective One marketing grant stream has enabled them to blossom and gain confidence in their own abilities."

Cornwall College sponsored projects have attracted Objective One investment and provide a range of training and learning opportunities for women including the Early Years Centres which provide childcare so parents can learn and train. Cornwall Education Business Partnership and Cornwall Youth Service have helped inspire and support women in achieving higher level NVQ professional qualifications. Empower aims to raise awareness among young women of the benefits of higher level training and identifying opportunities for career progression and self employment and The Wild Young Parents project aims to deliver high quality tailored training to young mothers. Projects have also been put in place for the provision of childcare so parents can learn and train.

For further information please contact Clare Morgan, Media Relations Manager for the Objective One Partnership. Tel: 01872 223439 /07973 813647. Email: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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