Acting as an ‘Empowerment Partner’, Dundee and Angus Collage, in collaboration Women’s Business Station, will deliver training and qualifications through a number of six to eight-week academies covering everything from hospitality and digital to manufacturing and engineering.

As well as gaining accredited qualifications, the women will gain exposure to local businesses generating a range of opportunities from interviews and placements to employment. The partnership intends to fill local labour shortages while reskilling and upskilling hundreds of local women. 

The suite of courses, aimed at increasing employability and entrepreneurship amongst women across the region, will kickstart in August 2022 with an English as a Second Language (ESOL) course. Around 15 women from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, part of Women’s Business Station’s ‘Aspiring Women’ programme, will participate.  The first two in a series of academies will launch soon after, focusing on digital and hospitality, and open to the wider Women’s Business Station community. 

Launched in 2019, Women’s Business Station is currently supporting over 500 women from across Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife, a combination of active businesswomen and those in the process of setting up in business. 

Angie De Vos, CEO of Women’s Business Station, commented: “Women’s Business Station exists to empower and enable women to take that next step, whether training, seeking work after a break, or setting up a business. From confidence-building and networking to testing the market with their product or service, we support women every step of the way and thrive on helping them transform into who they want to be.

By joining forces with the College, we can take our efforts one step further within the supportive environment we’re known for. As well as enjoying a more accessible transition into further education, they’ll gain a new perspective on the world of work, whether setting up their own enterprise, carving a brand new career or progressing onto higher education.”

Caryn Gibson, business partnerships manager and a director of Women’s Business Station, added: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Women’s Business Station which has made significant inroads into our local economy over the last few years, transforming the lives of hundreds of women in the process.

“Our partnership will bolster that offering and support the women to continue pursuing their dreams and aspirations. With high levels of unemployment throughout the region, women are bearing the brunt, particularly since the pandemic.

“However, this is also a time of hope and opportunity. While countless jobs remain unfilled, mass recruitment is also on the cards. By exploring various solutions to meet the women’s objectives, we will prepare them for employment, self-employment or further study through the delivery of key skills and qualifications.

“While supporting the female community as they take the next step, we will not just create tangible change for the women but shape a high-calibre, robust workforce to fill the skills gaps and invigorate our economy.”

One of the women hoping to take part in the hospitality academy is Marieam Adghaim, an accomplished baker from Libya. She now lives in Dundee with her husband and two young children, and took part in the Aspiring Women programme.

Ms Adghaim said: “I would love to set up a business selling my produce, perhaps running a café one day or working at different events. However, I need the right qualifications to do that and to meet the legal requirements such as licences and food hygiene certificates. Aspiring Women has made a huge difference to me and the college courses would help me take things to the next level.”

Since its launch, Women’s Business Station has supported 800 women, 209 of whom have launched businesses and 168 growing a business.  An additional 243 have entered into positive pathways such as education, career progression or volunteering, with 195 new jobs created. In doing so, a staggering £10.4M of economic impact has been generated within the city and surrounding areas.