Case studies
As part of International Women's Day this year we have put together a number of case studies and comments from both inspiring women and men who work for the Council.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Sarah and my role involves designing and carrying out research and consultations to understand people's opinions on a wide range of issues to help shape services and ensure decisions are taken with the public's views in mind. Our in-depth research on residents' aspirations and behaviours helps us understand how to design effective plans and policies that are customer-focused and ultimately will enhance the lives of our residents
What has been your greatest success?
Running two of the largest scale consultation and engagement exercises the Council has ever done, in ways we have never done before, to feed into the future direction of the Council and its plan for the next four years. A personal success of mine has been managing to walk unaided down the aisle on my wedding day 12 days after life-changing spinal surgery
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
I don't feel personally that there any specific challenges to being female working in the Council. The main challenge, as is the same with every team I come across, the volume of work and pressure of deadlines which sometimes can be very challenging to meet.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
I think it's hugely important to celebrate women's achievements inside and outside of the workplace, and reading about others' success stories and resilience in overcoming all sorts of challenges in both personal and professional lives inspire me to try my best every day and be proud of my achievements, however big or small they may be.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Rob and my role is to promote diversity and challenge inequality and discrimination, to help make Cheshire West an inclusive place for everyone who lives, works and visits.
What are your thoughts on International Women's Day?
I think it is really important that we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women, and having a specific day to do so is a useful reminder, although of course it is something we should do every day. In my role I see that although society has come a long way, true equality is still far off. Fifty years after the introduction of the Equal Pay Act we still have a double digit gender pay gap in the UK, and the fact that there are more Chief Executives of companies in the FTSE 100 called Steve than there are women are clear signs we need to redouble our efforts.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Roberta and I work to support staff and services with a range of Human Resource functions.
What has been your greatest success?
Successfully completing my CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management, and in turn progressing in my HR career.
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
Imposter syndrome is something that I have experienced as my career has progressed. However, I am learning to start accepting and embracing my capabilities.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
It is a powerful platform to celebrate the achievements of equality whilst continuing to drive further action.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Derek and my role is to help all departments of the council make sure they comply with Data Protection law.
What are your thoughts on International Women's Day?
I think International Women's Day is an excellent opportunity to recognise women's achievement and also highlight that there is still much work to do to get a gender equal world. I think it also draws out questions such as 'why is there an International Women's Day?' and 'when is there an 'International Men's Day?' For some people it is not until these questions are actually raised they will not fully understand that the world is a far from equal place and women are often institutionally as well as societally disadvantaged. International Men's Day takes place in November. Cheshire West and Chester Council may not be typical of a lot places to work as recruitment and selection processes here appear to result in fair and merit based appointments. But externally, while there are differences in pay, opportunities and respect based on gender there will remain a reason, a need in fact, for International Women's Day.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Jayne and I joined the Council in 2014. As part of my role I lead and develop multi-disciplinary teams within TSC Recruitment and Pay, providing technical and supervisory leadership across a comprehensive range of HR and Finance activities to ensure that recruitment, payroll, contractual correspondence, DBS checks are all delivered in accordance with Council standards and statutory requirements.
As one of the corporate service representatives for Equality and Diversity I identify current and future needs, possible inequalities including problems accessing or using services and information and supervising recruitment monitoring information. I also lead and develop staff training programs to ensure that the council promotes anti-discriminatory and non-judgmental practices.
The council workforce is a true reflection of our communities and customers and we are encouraged to celebrate diversity and embrace the value that our differences bring. As a woman in the council I feel supported and empowered within my role, I have access to training and development opportunities which give me the confidence to challenge the status quo and provide successful leadership.
What has been your greatest success?
During my time at the council I have participated in a number of key projects that have a borough wide impact, working across multi-skilled, multi-site teams, aligning with common goals to realise complex project expectations – such as the delivery of the Council's recruitment systems.
I have recently started a (CMI) management qualification which enables me to review and develop my own skills as a manager and leader and benchmark them against professional standards required for my career aspiration of Chartered Manager status. Completing this qualification will almost certainly be one of my career highlights.
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
We often find we can concentrate on issues, problems and the things that have gone wrong. It is important that we recognise our successes and achievements and share these within the organisation.
I feel there is a need for further development of resources, communication and understanding of fertility, pregnancy and menopause and that increased understanding of these topics could help women better negotiate the workplace during these stages in our lives.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
For me IWD is a worldwide event organised with the aim of bringing together governments, women's organisations, corporations and charities through talks, performances, networking events, conferences and marches.
It is a time for remembering the struggle faced by women in gaining basic rights (such as the right to; have an education, to vote, work, own property, be treated fairly and paid equally). The day gives us time to reflect on the work that remains in order to achieve equality for women and the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements and contributions that women are making to the world, working collectively to continue to improve our lives in the future.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Ryan and I work closely between the Council and its company Vivo Care Choices. I communicate with people both internally and externally to show how Vivo's services make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism and older people, including those with dementia.
What are your thoughts on International Women's Day?
I believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of their background, whether that is gender, sexuality or ethnicity. Unfortunately, many women have been discriminated against in years gone by and, in some cultures, that continues to be the case. There is undoubtedly still some work to do to make sure everyone is treated equally, but it is important people champion equality because the world will be a better place for it.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Kay and my role involves dealing daily with our customers to try to resolve concerns they have, and make appropriate improvements on the highway network.
What has been your greatest success?
To be raising three amazing children in a stable happy family environment with my husband whilst progressing in a career I enjoy with the Council.
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
I work in the Highway Service which is a male dominated environment and I find that I am treated the same as everyone else so don't find any additional challenges.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
To highlight that women should be treated equally in areas where they may not be.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Rob and I work to support the Chief Executive and Leader in their roles.
What are your thoughts on International Women's Day?
Society has undoubtedly come a long way over time. Far beyond the merits of equal pay and equal voting rights, there seems to be a growing recognition of the value that diversity brings to the workplace and to wider culture - but it would be naïve to think that the job is done - far from it. Genuine equality is very difficult to achieve; and unconscious bias still contributes to (often unintentional) unfairness in the way that people are treated - and to the opportunities which are afforded to them in the first place. Cheshire West and Chester Council is, in many ways, an organisation that leads by example. The Leader and the leader of the opposition are female; more than half of Cabinet Members and Directors are female; and the Council's Gender Pay Gap is very small. That said, this is not a reflection of many other organisations or of society as a whole, and so International Women's Day remains as important as ever - both to celebrate achievements and progress, but also to highlight the fact that there is still work to do.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Amy and my role is widespread across communications and customer engagement.
What has been your greatest success?
I am proud of my quick, steady progression throughout my career. I've always been confident in my abilities and I think that comes from an empowering family filled with strong women.
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
Thankfully I have an excellent team to prop me up when things feel challenging. I'm surrounded by willing, helpful and gracious colleagues. We work together to overcome obstacles and to produce the very best work we can.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
For me, while everyday should be a women's day, IWD acts as a reminder of where we've been and where we want to go. Taking a day to do that is as important in 2020 as it was hundreds of years ago. It's a chance to look back at women's history and learn from that to push for global change to make sure no girl is left behind.
What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Anne and I work within the Legal service. In addition I have volunteered to sit on the Council's Equality and Diversity Group, to be an Equality and Diversity champion and to provide Equality and Diversity training to Council staff.
What has been your greatest success?
In respect of work - my greatest success has probably been managing to retrain and establish a second career in my forties. After I left university I worked in marketing for large companies such as Cadbury and Nestle. In my late thirties, when I had two young children, I decided to retrain and become a solicitor. I had to go Law College for two years and then spend two years as a trainee solicitor in a firm. It was challenging to go back to studying after a long break, to manage studies with my family responsibilities, to be surrounded by younger people at college and to be the oldest trainee in the firm. I eventually qualified as a solicitor in my early forties. Since then I have developed a successful career in law. I was recently promoted into a senior management role in Cheshire West and Chester Council. Hopefully this shows that it's never too late to go back to study, to retrain and to develop a career.
What do you feel are additional challenges in the workplace for yourself?
Before I worked for the Council I worked for a firm of solicitors which was completely male dominated at senior level, with no flexibility or support for staff like me who had caring responsibilities. At that stage in my life, my children were young and I found it hard to develop my career whilst managing my family responsibilities and having a life outside of work. However, I don't think that at Cheshire West and Chester Council I face any particular challenges in comparison to others, or indeed in comparison to men. I think that the main challenges that I face will be the same as most people - time pressure and trying to manage my work so that I achieve some sort of work/life balance.
Why is International Women's Day important to you?
I have been very fortunate to have a good education and grow up in a family that supported me to develop my career and I am very aware that not everyone is so fortunate. As Malala Yousafzai, women's education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate said "We cannot all succeed, when half of us are held back." International Women's Day is a great way to draw attention to this and make people of aware of the work still to be done to put women on an equal footing with men and with each other.