A new mentorship scheme has been launched to support women working in the UK Parliament.
This initiative, designed to promote and develop opportunities for female career progression, has been developed by Sally Donald, Head of Office to Graham Leadbitter MP and Policy Lead of the ParliGender committee, the UK Parliament’s Workplace Equality Network for gender equality.
This scheme is directed at staff working across the House of Commons and House of Lords in the UK Parliament and aims to provide career development, leadership skills, networking opportunities, and confidence building.
Women taking part in the scheme will be partnered with a mentor, based on their goals and professional backgrounds, in hopes of creating a mutually beneficial relationship for both the mentor and mentee.
Commenting, Sally Donald, founder of the scheme, said:
“I’m delighted to be launching this mentorship scheme.
“Politics can be a tough space to work in, particularly for women, and they deserve every possible opportunity to thrive and succeed in their careers.
“I have been lucky to have a number of incredible mentors across the last almost decade of my career, and so much of my success has been down to having other women championing me and supporting me along the way.
“However, I know that not everyone has the same opportunities or experiences, and that politics can be a very difficult space for women to succeed in.
“I hope this scheme will go some way in addressing the needs of women at every stage of their career.”
Natasha Large, co-chair of the ParliGender committee said:
“I’m really excited that we’re launching this scheme, with many thanks to Sally for getting it set up.
“One of our priorities as ParliGender this year has been female career progression, looking at the progression of women into leadership roles across Parliament, and this scheme is a really great opportunity to meet and learn from the experiences of others across Parliament.
“In my role as a co-chair of ParliGender I really appreciate the opportunity to meet and work with colleagues I wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to meet, and I hope this scheme will similarly provide opportunities for people to connect with others in a positive space.”
Fellow co-chair of ParliGender, Eleanor (Elly) Ferguson, said:
“Female career progression has been a key priority for ParliGender which is why I am delighted that we are able to announce the launch our first Mentorship Scheme.
“Through this scheme it is our hope that we can promote and develop opportunities for female career progression throughout Parliament.
“By pairing women working in parliamentary roles with more experienced colleagues, creating a supportive environment that encourages career growth, leadership development, and professional networking.
“The world of politics and policy has come a long way over the last few years but there is still much more to do.
“A special thank you to Sally for all of her hard work and dedication in setting up the scheme”.
The scheme is open to all women working in the UK Parliament, both on the estate and remotely.
For more information on signing up, email sally.donald@parliament.uk
