Moving On is an innovative employment programme or women in Kerry, matching women who are looking for work with employers looking for staff. Moving On offers women free training, support & links with employers. It also gives women the opportunity to update their digital skills.
Over 200 women have participated in the programme so far and the feedback has been extremely positive. The Moving On programme is coordinated by Lisa Fingleton and Lisa O Flaherty. Both have extensive experience in recruitment as well as working with women and employers.
The programme adapted quickly to the pandemic and all the training has been running online since. This year it is hoped to run the 10 week programme over 2 mornings a week as a blended programme (both online and in person – subject to covid guidelines). According to Lisa Fingleton “The last year and a half was a steep learning curve for us all but we are here to support women even if it is their first time doing training online. We had an amazing response last year with large groups of women participating virtually in talks and events. It enabled us to work with inspiring women such as Dr Nadia Ramoutar who delivered a ‘Mastering your Mojo’ course for us without having to leave her home in Wicklow. What the pandemic showed us is that we can work more flexibility and sustainably with a better work life balance”.
“Remote working became a reality for many people within weeks. You can work in New York or Cork from Castleisland and this creates real opportunities for people living in rural communities”, says Lisa.
A lot of women come to Moving On after a number of years working in the home. According to the latest CSO statistics there are 445,000 women taking care of the home/Ireland. It can be very challenging to make the transition from home back into the workplace. As one of the participant’s Helen said “I felt lost and didn’t know what to do with my life. I really felt invisible. Moving On has shown me that I have choices and a lot to offer. I have also made so many friends and feel part of something now”.
Women sometimes lack confidence after being at home for a number of years but the programme shows them that they actually bring the necessary 21st century ‘new collar skills’ that employers need, such as reliability, flexibility, team work and problem solving.
According to Lisa O Flaherty, “The response from businesses has been fantastic. They are realising the benefits of being more flexible with their hours and offering part time work options. By doing this, they are tapping into a huge resource of skilled workers”.
Moving On runs an ‘Inspiring Women’ series of talks by influential and enthusiastic women in business and the community covering topics from climate action, dress to impress, creative women and mental health. Mary Beary, career coach focuses of networking skills and often surprises women by saying that “80% of the jobs are found through networking”.
Moving On is currently recruiting for the new programme starting at the end of this month. To be eligible women need to be not currently working, looking for work and not on job seekers/PUP payments. Other payments (or no payment) are eligible.
There will be an information morning online from 10.00-12.00 Wednesday 22nd September.
To register please contact: Lisa O Flaherty on 087 764 7446 or lisaoflaherty@newkd.ie. For more information go to: www.movingon.ie or Instgram / Twitter @movingonkerry
Moving On is managed by NEWKD and is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2022.
‘Moving On’ Podcasts 2021:
Check out out new Podcast Series: http://movingon.ie/podcasts