The European Commission has just launched a new initiative to help private sector companies and in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to better understand the benefits of combating gender stereotypes in the world of work, thus improving their competitiveness.

Gender stereotypes have a significant impact on the labour market and the business sector. Although companies cannot afford to waste talents, stereotypes related to what is more appropriate for men and women often act as barriers.

For instance, not so many are aware that: 59% of new university graduates and about 80% of students in business administration in Europe are women; women are in charge of over 70% of purchasing decisions; actions in support of gender equality have a positive impact on employees’ motivation, creativity and productivity; firms with the best record of promoting women to high positions are between 18 and 69% more profitable than the median Fortune 500 firms in their sector.

In particular in Malta, statistics show that although we have a higher percentage of females obtaining post secondary school education, (56.3%) this does not reflect in the overall participation in the local economic

Activity, which stands at 37.5%.

To address these issues, the project will include a series of workshops which will take place in 15 European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain). Such workshops will target staff of: chambers of commerce; business and professional associations; training bodies; businessmen and businesswomen; SMEs managers; human resource managers; and all those who work to improve SMEs competitiveness.

The action will also develop and provide an ad-hoc training “toolkit” for better and full use of individual talents within a company.

The national workshop for Malta will take place at the Radisson SAS St.Georges Bay St Julians from the 23rd to the 25th July 2008, each day targeted for a specific audience.

There is no charge for participating in the workshops. However, places are limited and will be assigned on the basis of the company profile and that of potential participants.

For further information and applications please contact Doris Sammut on 99422543, 21422010 or Charlotte Gregory on 99447278, 21334394 or consult the Project’s website www.businessandgender.eu