IWD2022: Gateshead women and the businesses supporting them
We continue our celebration of International Women's Day by highlighting the ongoing effort of businesses led by women and businesses supporting women across the borough.
Below we have gathered a few organisations helping to #BreakTheBias.
Positive About Inclusion CIC
Positive About Inclusion CIC is a Gateshead-based social enterprise providing equality, diversity and inclusion consultancy and training. The Co-Founders and Directors, Lucy Malarkey and Karen Faulkner, established the business in 2020 with support from Business Gateshead.
Lucy said, "As a business owned and run by women, we are delighted to be supporting International Women's Day. Whilst women have made important gains in representation in the last few years, we're still a long way from equality, particularly in leadership roles. And all organisations, public and private, need to take action to support, retain and advance women. An active commitment to interrupt the gender bias women face at work is crucial to getting this right."
Karen added, "It's a sad fact that the majority of women experience bias and microaggressions at work. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it harder for women to get hired and promoted, and negatively impacts their day-to-day work experiences. But, knowing that bias exists isn't enough. The 'call to action' for this year's International Women's Day is to #BreakTheBias and we would call on everyone to take this opportunity to reflect on any bias they might have and to actively take steps to 'interrupt' it by being self-aware, and supporting their peers to 'call them out' if necessary."
Photos: Lucy Malarkey (left) and Karen Faulkner (right), Co-Founders and Directors
Alison Gwynn and Northern Film + Media
Alison Gwynn, Northern Film + Media Chief Executive, was recently awarded the RTS North East and Border Award for Outstanding Contribution to the region.
Following a challenging period for the North East's screen industries, Alison was integral in securing significant and future investment from the BBC in partnership with the two combined authorities and 12 local authorities of North East England. This will enable the region to become one of the UK's leading TV and film production hubs.
Northern Film + Media and Chief Executive Alison hope to inspire and support the next generation of women in TV and film, "It's encouraging to see a growing number of women taking positions of leadership within organisations that operate in the UK screen industry. However, there is still work to be done, especially when we talk about production crew.
"According to the Looking Glass report 2020, women make up only 38% of the film, TV and cinema workforce, with the dominance of men within the industry making it seem like an 'Old Boys Club'. For the North East we will continue to work with industry bodies such as BFI, Bafta, Pact and BECTU to drive improvements in working practices that will support women in the industry."
Photo: Alison Gwynn, Northern Film + Media Chief Executive, accepting award (photo credit to RTS and Border)
StylebyBella
Bella's career as a stylist began in Sweden where she studied Fashion and Design, after which she found a passion for personal styling and the ability to make other people feel amazing about themselves. Fast forward, Bella has styled hundreds of individuals with different wardrobe dilemmas and started her own personal styling business.
She enjoys helping others discover their own confidence and style, "I've never really felt like I've fitted in anywhere, so I created my own path and now I'm helping other's embrace their individuality every single day."
Photo: Bella, Founder
Komatsu & Dacon Fabrications
Women are supported across multiple industries and sectors within Gateshead, including manufacturing organisations. Two such companies are Komatsu and Dacon Fabrications.
In support of International Women's Day, both companies shared images of women in the workplace doing the IWD 2022 pose.
Photos: Anne Lund, joined Komatsu in 2011, works in assembly (left); Dacon Fabrications (right)
The Millin Charity
The Millin Charity provides holistic support to women living in Newcastle and Gateshead to help them to make progress towards financial independence. Their offer includes accredited enterprise courses, business advice & guidance, practical support, confidence-building, trading opportunities, Community services and employment support.
Having recently opened a new Women's Enterprise Hub in Gateshead (located at Greenesfield Business Centre), the charity provides a range of specialist enterprise services enabling women to develop their own businesses in Gateshead.
For international Women's Day, The Millin Charity hosted an online event inviting all of their members to join in a range of well-being activities. All participants received a pampering wellbeing pack along with a pack of mindfulness and crafts activities to complete during the event.
Photo: The Millin Charity Gateshead Hub
Even though International Women's Day has passed for this year, the movement continues year-long with the aim to create a "diverse, equitable, and inclusive" world. For more resources and information about IWD, visit: https://www.internationalwomensday.com /
We continue our celebration of International Women's Day by highlighting the ongoing effort of businesses led by women and businesses supporting women across the borough.
Below we have gathered a few organisations helping to #BreakTheBias.
Positive About Inclusion CIC
Positive About Inclusion CIC is a Gateshead-based social enterprise providing equality, diversity and inclusion consultancy and training. The Co-Founders and Directors, Lucy Malarkey and Karen Faulkner, established the business in 2020 with support from Business Gateshead.
Lucy said, "As a business owned and run by women, we are delighted to be supporting International Women's Day. Whilst women have made important gains in representation in the last few years, we're still a long way from equality, particularly in leadership roles. And all organisations, public and private, need to take action to support, retain and advance women. An active commitment to interrupt the gender bias women face at work is crucial to getting this right."
Karen added, "It's a sad fact that the majority of women experience bias and microaggressions at work. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it harder for women to get hired and promoted, and negatively impacts their day-to-day work experiences. But, knowing that bias exists isn't enough. The 'call to action' for this year's International Women's Day is to #BreakTheBias and we would call on everyone to take this opportunity to reflect on any bias they might have and to actively take steps to 'interrupt' it by being self-aware, and supporting their peers to 'call them out' if necessary."
Photos: Lucy Malarkey (left) and Karen Faulkner (right), Co-Founders and Directors
Alison Gwynn and Northern Film + Media
Alison Gwynn, Northern Film + Media Chief Executive, was recently awarded the RTS North East and Border Award for Outstanding Contribution to the region.
Following a challenging period for the North East's screen industries, Alison was integral in securing significant and future investment from the BBC in partnership with the two combined authorities and 12 local authorities of North East England. This will enable the region to become one of the UK's leading TV and film production hubs.
Northern Film + Media and Chief Executive Alison hope to inspire and support the next generation of women in TV and film, "It's encouraging to see a growing number of women taking positions of leadership within organisations that operate in the UK screen industry. However, there is still work to be done, especially when we talk about production crew.
"According to the Looking Glass report 2020, women make up only 38% of the film, TV and cinema workforce, with the dominance of men within the industry making it seem like an 'Old Boys Club'. For the North East we will continue to work with industry bodies such as BFI, Bafta, Pact and BECTU to drive improvements in working practices that will support women in the industry."
Photo: Alison Gwynn, Northern Film + Media Chief Executive, accepting award (photo credit to RTS and Border)
StylebyBella
Bella's career as a stylist began in Sweden where she studied Fashion and Design, after which she found a passion for personal styling and the ability to make other people feel amazing about themselves. Fast forward, Bella has styled hundreds of individuals with different wardrobe dilemmas and started her own personal styling business.
She enjoys helping others discover their own confidence and style, "I've never really felt like I've fitted in anywhere, so I created my own path and now I'm helping other's embrace their individuality every single day."
Photo: Bella, Founder
Komatsu & Dacon Fabrications
Women are supported across multiple industries and sectors within Gateshead, including manufacturing organisations. Two such companies are Komatsu and Dacon Fabrications.
In support of International Women's Day, both companies shared images of women in the workplace doing the IWD 2022 pose.
Photos: Anne Lund, joined Komatsu in 2011, works in assembly (left); Dacon Fabrications (right)
The Millin Charity
The Millin Charity provides holistic support to women living in Newcastle and Gateshead to help them to make progress towards financial independence. Their offer includes accredited enterprise courses, business advice & guidance, practical support, confidence-building, trading opportunities, Community services and employment support.
Having recently opened a new Women's Enterprise Hub in Gateshead (located at Greenesfield Business Centre), the charity provides a range of specialist enterprise services enabling women to develop their own businesses in Gateshead.
For international Women's Day, The Millin Charity hosted an online event inviting all of their members to join in a range of well-being activities. All participants received a pampering wellbeing pack along with a pack of mindfulness and crafts activities to complete during the event.
Photo: The Millin Charity Gateshead Hub
Even though International Women's Day has passed for this year, the movement continues year-long with the aim to create a "diverse, equitable, and inclusive" world. For more resources and information about IWD, visit: https://www.internationalwomensday.com /
