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WMG supports young female role models

Exceptional Apprentice award winner, Florence HopperLast night (Tuesday 21st February), we were honoured to join Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra and other esteemed guests, at the inaugural Young Women’s Trust awards ceremony.

 

The Young Women’s Trust, is a charity supporting women aged 16 to 30 on low or no pay. The ceremony was held to recognise three amazing young women who have overcome barriers to success to make substantial progress in their lives.

In contrast to traditional awards, these awards sponsored by WMG, Venn Group and Clarion Housing Group, celebrate women starting out, rather than those at the top of their professions, to highlight how difficult it can be to get a foot in the door. Young Women’s Trust offers direct services to support young women into work and campaigns for fair financial futures.

 

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya comments: “It is important that young women are given as many opportunities as possible in order to succeed in today’s challenging world. The work of the Young Women’s Trust is vital in helping them to achieve this.”

Florence Hopper, 22 from Reading, who whilst studying for her accountancy exams cared for her sister who has special needs, subsequently gained a permanent job at Prudential UK, won the ‘Exceptional Apprentice’ award (sponsored by WMG).

Florence said: “I am extremely honoured and delighted to have won this award. It’s great to be recognised for my achievements and it shows that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

"The apprenticeship programme at Prudential has given me the opportunity to start my career in finance and has opened a lot of doors for me. Right from the start I was committed to learning and progressing in my role and I have been studying in my spare time to gain my professional qualifications. Since I began working four years ago I have grown both personally and professionally. During this time I have received a great deal of support from my colleagues, managers, tutors and family, for which I am very thankful."

“My advice is to be the best version of yourself and to make the most every opportunity that comes your way – you never know where it could take you.”

Young Women’s Trust chief executive Dr Carole Easton OBE said: “These young women are outstanding role models for the hundreds of thousands of young women struggling to get a foot on the career ladder. Progress is being made to increase the number of women in senior leadership roles, but this is not making a difference to the barriers young, disadvantaged women face getting a job in the first place.

“Young women are facing challenges that often shut them out of the jobs market or mean they are more likely to be on low pay or in insecure jobs. Barriers to work include a lack of accessible childcare, low self-confidence and a lack of flexible job opportunities. Despite this, young women are working hard to find jobs, persevere in male-dominated sectors and juggle caring responsibilities with work and studies. It’s time their challenges and efforts were recognised.”

 

Other award winners

Young Women’s Trust ‘Influencer’ award

Helena Kiely, 28 from Sheffield, used her experience of being out of education to become the joint director of a project that helps young people gain skills.

Young Women’s Trust ‘Conqueror’ award

Abby Lundie, 25 from Rugby, who after battling bullying and severe anxiety achieved her dream role as a nursery nurse.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editor:

 

  • Young Women’s Trust supports and represents women in England and Wales aged 16-30 trapped by low or no pay, and facing a life of poverty. The charity provides services and runs campaigns to make sure that the talents of young women don't go to waste. Her Majesty, The Queen is a royal patron of Young Women’s Trust.

  • Award winners were chosen by a panel of young women following an open nomination process. Fifty young women were nominated for awards in total.

  • For more information, to arrange a time to speak to an award winner, or if you would like to speak with a Young Women’s Trust ambassador in your local area, please contact Bex Bailey at bex.bailey@youngwomenstrust.org or on 07963018281.

 

 

Wed 22 Feb 2017, 14:07 | Tags: Athena Swan STEM