The business case for inclusive hiring

Iona Hansell - The Women's Work Lab C.I.C.

By Camilla Rigby and Rachel Mostyn, Co-Founders of the Women’s Work Lab

When we set up the Women’s Work Lab 6 years ago, with a background in corporate communications and journalism, we were passionate about diverse teams being not only good for social impact - but good for business growth too. That’s why we knew that working with businesses and corporate companies would be key.

Finding new talent

At the Women’s Work Lab, we work with brilliant mums who have faced multiple barriers to working from across the South West, equipping them with the skills, confidence, work experience and opportunities they need to re-enter the workforce. We have a detailed programme, including in-class training, a bespoke 4 week work placement and 1-1 mentoring for each Mum. We’re proud to have now supported over 500 Mums through our programmes and the impact speaks volumes: within 6 months of graduating from us, 71% are in work, volunteering or further training. It’s great for these Mums and for the businesses we work with, it makes perfect business sense too.

It’s time society changed

Nationally, the statistics paint a stark picture:  More than 1 in 4 mothers (28%) say they constantly or often worry about whether they can afford to meet their children’s needs. 85% of working mothers struggle to find a job that can accommodate their childcare needs. Working mothers are 1.4 times more likely to feel the financial burden of childcare costs, compared to working fathers. It’s time society changed. We must all work together to create a more equal playing field: with genuinely flexible working practices, equal pay and by driving meaningful change.

Building a loyal and dedicated workforce

We currently have partnerships with many South West Businesses including Burges Salmon, ARAG Group, Buro Happold, the NHS, Babcock, Sisk and local councils and universities, to name just a few. These employers have partnered with us to offer a work placement to our Mums.  In many cases employers make a permanent job offer, based purely on merit.

We work with mums who are hungry to work. Mums who want to make a positive change for their families. Many of the women we work with have faced barriers to employment due to societal inequality, caring responsibilities, domestic violence, gaps in their CVs or a lack of confidence after a long time away from work. Many have also had professional careers before becoming a Mum, but due to childcare responsibilities they are now looking for a new avenue. What these mums bring to the table is powerful: they have resilience, dependability, adaptability, life experience and a huge determination to succeed. They will be a huge asset to your team.

What we can offer businesses:

Partnering with us, either by offering a work placement or through recruiting one of our mums, offers businesses real opportunities: 

• Save time and money: by hiring one of our Mums you can save hours of recruitment time and the traditional recruitment fees.
• Improved Retention: Our Mums are reliable. They are driven and capable women, actively looking for work. They work hard to make the most of each opportunity.
• We can open up your talent pools: Our Mums wouldn’t normally come to you through a recruitment agency. They are an untapped audience of work-ready mums who you wouldn’t be able to find through traditional means. They are committed and determined to succeed.
• We do the hard work: to be offered a place on our programme, each Mum is rigorously interviewed twice. We will then match the Mum with a work experience placement - based on what the employer is looking for and what each mum offers. 
• New insights: Hiring inclusively isn’t just good PR. It delivers new perspectives and ideas and reflects the communities we live in. It shows that you value equality.

Find out more about us!

Come and find out more about us at our Employer Event on Monday 9th June, 12:30-14:00 at Burges Salmon, One Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0ZX

Sign up for the event here: WWL 2025 Employer Partner Event