Sacramento launches second cycle of Women’s Mentorship Programme

The Ministry of Equality has launched its second cycle of the Women’s Mentorship Programme as it invited new applications for the programme.

According to the Gibraltar Government this follows the success of the pilot programme, which drew close to fifty participants.

The Minister for Equality, Samantha Sacramento, first announced the Women’s Mentorship Programme on International Women’s Day 2018, and this is one of the strands of the strategy to address the gender pay gap locally.

Mentorship is a demonstrated, effective way to achieve meaningful career progression and the programme will enable mentees to interact with and learn from established professionals whose expertise spans the economic and social spectrum.

“This will help mentees to develop a number of key skills including leadership skills, which will prove particularly beneficial when they aspire to senior and middle management positions,” the Government said in a statement.

“Ensuring that women are equitably represented in these positions is key to developing women’s full potential, to maximizing their contribution to their organisations and to the local economy and to addressing the gender pay gap.”

This cycle of the Women’s Mentorship Programme, which will commence in June, will run for five months and mentors are expected to commit to a minimum of 10 hours to their mentee.

Participants will once again be fully supported by the Ministry of Equality following an induction session and an initial networking event.

All professionals who would like to make a voluntary contribution and are willing to share their knowledge, expertise and experience to be mentors are invited to register.

“If you are a woman over 18 years of age, resident in Gibraltar and feel that you would benefit from having an experienced mentor we strongly encourage you to participate,” the Government said.

An information/networking event is being organised for Tuesday May 28. Please register for the event at equality@gibraltar.gov.gi.

Ms Sacramento said: “Encouraged by the excellent and positive feedback from the first cycle I am delighted to be able to announce the launch of this year’s cycle.”

“The Women’s Mentorship Programme was an absolute success and that was largely the result of committed mentors and a great deal of work by the Ministry of Equality in designing a bespoke programme.”

“This is a cross sector programme which aims to develop women’s career progression and which, ultimately, and in the mid to long term, can contribute to closing the gender pay gap locally.”

“I call upon all sectors of the community to continue to support and participate in the programme which can only be of benefit to us all and I encourage everyone interested to register with the Ministry for Equality.”

Potential applicants to the programme can view the Ministry of Equality’s Women’s Mentorship Programme video.

If you are interested in taking part in the Women’s Mentorship Programme and would like to register for the networking event please email equality@gibraltar.gov.gi. The closing date for applications is June 7.

Pic by Johnny Bugeja