Recommendations
The report makes 11 key recommendations. In addition, the Commission makes a recommendation back to the SAAB Group Board and Employers’ Equality Group to monitor the implementation and impact of these recommendations.
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What employers can do now in the immediate term
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What government can do, working closely with employers, in the medium term
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What training, further and higher education providers, regulators and professional bodies with responsibility for the care and education of children and young people can do in the long term.
Recommendations for employers
Recommendation 1: Inclusive workplace
Apprenticeship employers should work proactively to ensure they have the right culture and conditions in place to create opportunities and give confidence to employees of all genders and backgrounds
Recommendation 2: Promote and ensure gender diversity in the workplace
Employers should take a proactive approach in order to develop and maintain a strategy for improving gender diversity, including the use of gender-neutral language, a positive recruitment policy, and pay in line with the Gender Pay Action Plan.
Recommendation 3: Engaging young people
Businesses should develop a strategy for engaging young people at various life stages and in appropriate settings.
Recommendation 4: Curate and create sector-based workplace information
Industry and trade bodies should create content and engagement campaigns about gender diversity in employment, aimed at key and transitional stages, that can be shared with influencers, as well as online and through social media.
Recommendations for government and public sector bodies
Recommendation 5: Implementation of Fair Work
Public sector bodies should engage actively with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First criteria and guidelines, which will help employers adopt Fair Work practices, and support them in creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Recommendation 6: Develop a long-term partnership approach
Scottish Government should work with employers, trade unions and professional bodies to develop a long-term partnership approach to address gender stereotypes in the world of work.
Recommendation 7: Develop a localised approach
Scottish Government should engage directly with employers, trade unions and professional bodies to develop an improved localised approach to business and education engagement, with a focus on skills for the future (Industry 4.0) and gender diversity.
Recommendation 8: Develop a national campaign
Scottish Government should create a sustained national campaign for parents and carers of young children highlighting the impact of gender stereotypes on choices and chances in later life.
Recommendation 9: Raise awareness of gender stereotyping through career education
Scottish Government should work with employers, trade unions and professional bodies to develop a long-term partnership approach to address gender stereotypes in the world of work.
Recommendations for education and training providers
Recommendation 10: Raise awareness of gender stereotyping through professional learning
Education and training providers of professional learning for all practitioners working with children and young people (teachers, careers advisers, youth workers) should improve professional learning by including a specific focus on the impact of gender stereotypes
Recommendation 11: Increase Diversity in the ELC Sector
The Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector should be recognised as vital to the drive to break down gendered barriers to the workplace by all stakeholders.
Recommendations for SAAB - Recommendation 12: Monitor impact
The SAAB Group Board and Equality Employer Group (EEQ) should monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Gender Commission’s recommendations.