Community partnership helps build confidence and opens doors for 60 women
Around 60 women in East Birmingham have completed a six-week digital employability programme.
The purpose of the programme is to break down barriers to getting into the workplace and instil the personal confidence and skills needed to enter the job market.
The Digital Gateway into Employment (DGIE) course was developed by Women’s Wellbeing in collaboration with Birmingham City University (BCU) and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Vital digital skills
Participants built practical skills in email, online forms, job searching, CV writing, LinkedIn profiles, AI tools and interview preparation.
The programme got under way in the lead-up to International Women’s Day (yesterday – Sunday March 8), a global celebration of women’s achievements pushing for gender equality.
Shabana Qureshi, CEO of Women’s Wellbeing and Community Ambassador for BCU, said: “Our women felt seen, supported and taken seriously.
“From the very beginning, the Public and Community Engagement team worked alongside us to shape, coordinate and deliver this in a structured and professional way.
“They didn’t just attend, they helped bring the right people together, connect us with employers and ensure everything ran smoothly.”
Careers fair at BCFC
The course concluded with a careers fair at the Birmingham City Football Club Foundation hub in Bordesley Green, where 88 local women met with representatives from 14 employers. Twenty-nine participants were formally recognised with certificates at the event.
Raaj Shamji, Associate Director of Public and Community Engagement at BCU, said: “We don’t see communities as beneficiaries, we see them as experts,” he said. “Real change happens when lived experience sits equally alongside education, industry and policy makers.”
Julie Stonall, Director of Careers and Student Opportunities at BCU, added: “The positive energy and transformative atmosphere were palpable. Women were confidently using their newly acquired skills to network, make connections, and share their CVs and personal stories.”
A further careers fair is planned for March to support participants’ continued progression into employment.
