16.11.07
SMART Women in Cornwall

It will be a first anniversary with a difference. The SMART Women Project is about to celebrate its first birthday supported by over 100 women throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who have benefited from taking part in the programme.

The programme was developed for women based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, interested in starting a business, employed by larger businesses, unemployed or self employed and it has achieved extraordinary results in a short time, including an amazing 84 per cent of women attaining a Chartered Management Institute qualification through Cornwall College.

In addition to the qualification the project has helped over 160 women to achieve their goals in their professional and personal lives through a cutting edge personal development programme.

One SMART Woman graduate, Dawn Pearce, joined the programme to update her skills and at the time worked as the Marine Project Officer for Cornwall Marine Network in Falmouth. Dawn has since been promoted to Training Manager, and she attributes this success to SMART Women. She said: “Working in a male dominated environment at Pendennis Shipyard meant that many men assumed I was a note taker when attending strategic meetings. I now have the self esteem to meet them as an equal. The Business Development Plan I developed during the course focused on developing a MarineAcademy for Cornwall and we are currently putting this plan into action. I now know I can achieve anything I want to and am capable of taking the steps I need to achieve it.”

Another SMART Woman, Marie Preece is the Marketing Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust based in Truro and was new to the senior management role. Marie joined the programme to increase her general and people management skills and also used the opportunity to write a development plan for her department. Ms Preece explained: “I run an extremely successful department at the Trust and have expanded my role to include managing marketing and funding for the Isles of Scilly. In the New Year I will be responsible for three additional members of staff, who will be able to help raise more funding for the organisation. I have really changed, become more positive and confident.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership and Patron of the SMART Women project, said: “I would encourage any women in Cornwall who have not yet taken advantage of this project to sign up so that they are able to share the support and benefits that previous participants have already experienced.”

Emma Julian couldn’t agree more. Ms Julian was unemployed when she joined the course, but after completing the project she quickly found a job as a Graphic Designer for Pickle Design in Wadebridge. She said: “I had an interview, I got it! SMART Women helped my interview technique and confidence. After 10 months of unemployment, it inspired me to move forwards. My confidence has really grown.”

The next SMART Women programme starts in January 2008 and there are 20 places left; the programme costs just £125, and is supported by Objective One. This programme is seen as a unique and vital project for the Cornish economy. It exists to address the under-representation of women working at a senior level and in management roles.

The first anniversary celebrations, to be held at Pippa’s in Truro on Tuesday 11th December, will recognise the achievements of many women with a glittering awards ceremony which also serves to launch the new programme for the coming year. For more details, please contact the SMART Women team on 01209 617573 or email smartwomen@ccb.cornwall.ac.uk.

For further information please contact Ruth Sparkes, PR & Communications Manager, Cornwall College, on 01726 226463/07760 490980 or email ruth.sparkes@cornwall.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). CornwallCollege is a partner of the CUC.

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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