Tag: women

THE GIRLS IN GREEN LEGACY: Seeing Televised Professional Sport provides A Real Incentive To Take It Up, But Access To Local Clubs Is Vital

More than 2.4m people watched RTÉ television’s coverage of the Women’s Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last summer.  In that tournament, the Republic of Ireland’s game against Canada was the most watched women’s team sport event in Irish TV history with an average of 551,000 viewers.

New research from Royal London, the founding partner of the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour, shows the wider significance of viewing figures like these. Almost one in four (24%) of parents surveyed across Ireland say the more sport is shown on TV, the more likely their children are to take it up. Furthermore, 15% of parents in Ireland say their child took up a team sport after seeing it live professionally, and 15% say their child got into team sports as they were inspired watching a sporting role model on TV. However, the ability to play alongside their friends is also a big draw for children when it comes to sport, with more than one in three (35%) of the parents in Ireland surveyed citing the opportunity to play alongside their friends as the reason their children became interested in sport.

Over a fifth (23%) of parents in Ireland say their children have been involved in team sports due to having access to a local club. When looking at how realistic this is for children across Ireland, more than seven in ten (72%) of adults have a sports club within half an hour of their home. However, one in five (22%) have to travel longer than 30 minutes, while 6% don’t know where their local sports club is. Interestingly, while the numbers were low overall, of the women surveyed, they were seven times as likely as men not to know the location of their local sports club (7pc of women versus 1pc of men).

When reflecting on their own decision to take up team sports, 44% of adults in Ireland did so to play with friends and three in ten (30%) said it was a fun way to keep fit that wasn’t solo. A quarter (25%) were encouraged to play by a teacher or coach.

Shaunagh Brown, professional rugby player for England and Harlequins, says: “This Women’s Lions tour, the first of its kind, will allow more people to witness women playing rugby at a high level. I was interested, but not surprised, that the research showed more adults would consider taking up a team sport if they saw people who looked and sounded like them playing it. To believe you can do it, you have to see someone like you living, breathing and enjoying it. And, even if you don’t end up following a professional path with sport, the benefits you will feel from playing as part of a team in terms of greater confidence, resilience and improved social skills will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Susie Logan, chief marketing officer at Royal London says: “At present, through either a lack of airtime or wider exposure, some women’s sports have not yet been visible enough to inspire future generations.

The blend of seeing it played well on TV and taking it up with friends is key. Team sports create a community and can become an important part of a child’s development. We need to keep striving towards equality at all levels, whether that be what’s televised or at grassroots. Both are essential to create foundations for the future and give every child the inspiration and access they need to thrive playing team sport. This is why we’re proud to partner with the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour.

Royal London has been announced as Founding Partner of the first ever Lions Women’s team. The partnership will see Royal London invest in player development in each of The British & Irish Lions constituent Unions through the delivery of a special elite players’ Pathways Funding grant. The grants will support the elite women’s player and coach pathways in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England, to help Unions develop more players and coaches capable of being selected for the inaugural Lions Women’s Tour. In addition, Royal London will also be investing in women’s and girls’ grassroots rugby across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to the Tour.”

Midlands celebrates 4 Ericsson Finalists in Women in STEM Awards 2023

The highly anticipated Women in STEM Awards 2023 celebrate and recognise the incredible achievements and innovations of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland, with the Midlands region celebrating as four women from the Ericsson Athlone team have been named as finalists in the upcoming awards.

These awards shine a light on the women who are breaking barriers, pushing boundaries, and making a significant impact in their fields. Among the esteemed finalists, Ericsson Athlone has emerged as a stand-out contender, with an impressive four finalists from their Athlone team, confirming their dedication to diversity, innovation, and leadership in STEM.

Ericsson’s nominations span diverse categories, reflecting their continued work to promote gender balance, and highlight the opportunities of careers in STEM to women and girls across the Midlands region.

  • Role Model of the Year: Sinéad Pillion
  • Women in STEM Award for Engineering: Noreen Muldoon
  • STEM Graduate of the Year: Andrea Tesarova
  • Rising Star of the Year: Natallia Patsykalnik

The Women in STEM Awards have become a leading event in the STEM community, showcasing some of Ireland’s leading companies and organisations that are creating diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces that allow every employee to thrive, regardless of their background.

The awards are driven by the belief that when companies and organisations embrace diversity and inclusivity, they foster a culture of innovation and creativity, and provide the necessary support for women in STEM to reach their full potential.

Commenting on the nominations, Sinéad Pillion, Head of Programs & Operations for Network Management Engineering at Ericsson, and Chair of the Midlands ICT Cluster said, “It is an honour to be named as one of this year’s finalists, along with my three colleagues, in the Women in STEM Awards, and it’s a testament to Ericsson’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender diversity, technological innovation, and leadership within our industry.

“Through our INFUSE (Investing in Future Software Engineers) program at Ericsson Athlone, we are committed to investing in STEM through a range of initiatives that focus on creating enthusiasm around software engineering, with the aim of motivating more female students to consider a career in technology and software engineering. Across the Midlands region, there are so many inspiring programmes offered by members of the Midlands ICT Cluster and aimed at increasing female STEM participation, and we are delighted to support the ongoing work that is ensuring a bright future for women in STEM across the region.”

The Women in STEM Awards 2023 will be hosted on October 26th 2023, at a prestigious event in the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin. The event promises to be an inspiring evening, celebrating achievements, fostering networking, and encouraging future leaders in STEM. For more information about the event, please visit https://womeninstemawards.ie/

Expleo launches initiatives to attract women in Ireland back to the workplace

Expleo, a global technology, engineering, and consulting service provider, is today announcing that it is launching progressive initiatives aimed at attracting women back to the workplace. The Return@Expleo programme, in partnership with Women Returners, along with an expanded leave policy and a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Programme, aims to empower female professionals seeking to return to work.

Expleo’s Return@Expleo programme is aimed at professionals who have taken extended career break. Participants will be equipped with the resources they require to refresh their skills, re-establish industry connections and pursue their career progression. On completion of the five-month paid career returners programme, successful candidates will have a view towards permanency within Expleo. This will help Expleo fill current job openings in the areas of Quality Assurance, Business Analysis, and Engineering.

Expleo’s commitment to diversity is further exemplified through its generous leave policies, which the company has expanded this year to include menopause leave, fertility treatment leave, volunteer leave and special leave relating to important life situations, such as a child starting school. Team members can also avail of fully-paid maternity, paternity, adoption, and parent’s leave. In addition, Expleo’s life enrichment programme offers unpaid leave for traveling, research or education.

Expleo’s award-winning Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Programme, meanwhile, has long been a champion for female voices in the workplace. With a dedicated D&I Committee and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Expleo ensures that all employees have a voice in shaping D&I initiatives. The company’s commitment to continuous learning is demonstrated through its annual D&I training for the leadership team and employees. Expleo’s dedication to gender diversity has been recognised with award wins including the recent Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Tech Excellence Awards. It has also previously been awarded the Best Large Workplace in Ireland.

Aimee Farrell, Project Manager at Expleo, who went through the programme said: “I joined Expleo as a Project Manager through the Return@Expleo programme in March 2022 following a five-year career break to stay at home with my young children. From the very first contact I had with Expleo and the team at Women Returners, I knew that my career was in good hands. They made the transition back to work very straight forward and provided support including webinars on brushing up your CV and job interview preparation, through to a five-month programme of workshops specific to my needs. This personalised approach helped me regain confidence and update my skills. Connecting with the other participants on the programme created a supportive community, offering shared experiences and valuable insights. I recommend this programme to any woman seeking to return to the world of work.”

Eimear Fitzsimons, Head of Recruitment, at Expleo, said: “At Expleo, we are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We understand that many women desire to return to the workforce, but may lack confidence and feel that their skills are outdated – particularly when it comes to our fast-moving technology industry. Through our initiatives, we aim to provide the encouragement and support that career returners need to step back into the professional realm and carve out successful careers.

“Helping women to get back into the workplace is just one element of ensuring greater gender diversity in our industry. We understand that life happens and that is why we have extended our leave policies to include menopause leave and special leave, which can cover unexpected or unique events. We stand by our employees through every stage of their lives, continually assessing and enhancing our benefits to meet their evolving needs year after year.

“We have also taken measures including the removal of gender-biased language from job ads; implementing internal mentorship programmes; offering a flexible model for working parents, Expleo Fusion; and hosting impactful workshops and webinars. Our goal is to empower female professionals, dismantle barriers, and foster an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive and make meaningful contributions.”

 To find out more information or to apply for the roles, visit https://expleo.to/ReturnAtExpleoProgramme

Google open applications for 2023 scholarship to support women in Computer Science Education

Google has now opened applications for the 2023 Generation Google Scholarship for women in computer science in Ireland which will see each successful applicant being awarded €5,000 annually, for the duration of their undergraduate studies.

Launched in 2020, this is the fourth year of the scholarshipIn that time, 40 recipients have been awarded scholarships with two 2022 Generation Google scholars now interning at Google’s Dublin campus. The aim of the programme is to further gender equality in the field of computer science in Ireland, by encouraging women to excel in computing and technology, and become active leaders and role models in the industry.

Ruth Bergin, a recipient of the scholarship last year said: “The Generation Google scholarship has boosted my career immensely. I received mentoring from an Engineering Director at Google, who offered me excellent career advice and helped me improve my technical interview skills. I completed an internship at Google Zurich, during which I even got the chance to visit the US on a business trip! I’ve presented to a Google Vice-President, to Senior Directors, and to Directors. Beyond all of that, I’ve met so many female role models in the tech space – from my intern host to the scholarship programme team. When I applied, I didn’t realise just how many experiences and opportunities would open up to me – or that I’d even be chosen at all! I’d urge any student pursuing a tech career to apply.

Welcoming the 2023 programme, Jessica McCarthy, Director of Engineering at Google Ireland, said: “Since 2020, Google has helped inspire a new generation of women to begin careers in computer science. In that time, our Generation Google Scholarship programme has encouraged women to study in the computer science & engineering fields, offered support and mentorship to women and helped foster a positive view of the working experience for women in tech. We are pleased to announce applications are now open for 2023. We look forward to welcoming a new intake to join the already 40 scholarship recipients of this dedicated programme.

Open for applications now, the Generation Google scholarship is an extension of the global programme and scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s strength of impact on diversity, demonstrated leadership and academic background.

The ten Generation Google Scholars will each receive a €5,000 award for the duration of their undergraduate studies. Scholarship funds will be distributed to selected scholarship recipients, on an annual basis, for the duration of the student’s undergraduate programme for up to four years.

Those eligible to apply must be currently enrolled as a first or second year undergraduate student at a university /institute of technology in Ireland. They must intend to continue pursuing their Bachelors degree at a university/ institute of technology in Ireland for at least the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. They must be studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field, demonstrate a strong academic record, and exemplify leadership and show a passion for increasing the involvement of women in technology.

Those wishing to apply for the Generation Google Scholarship for women in Computer Science in Ireland, can do so by visiting the Google scholarships page. Applications will be open until 16 May 2023.

For questions on the scholarship programme students can email generationgoogle-emea@google.com.

Review – Revamp Progloss Deep Beach Waver WV-2000

Here on techbuzz we like to cater for all ages and all people, over the last while we have been asked to review other products outside the pale which is not a bad thing and we have now decided to move forward and start reviewing other products catering males and females and giving a hands on approach to it rather than speak with stock images, going forward we will be doing videos in this department but we have a few products to look at to test the waters so to speak and have had several products sit idle for some time due to the huge range of tech we have covered since December with lots more to come..

Next up is something for the ladies or being inclusive those who have long hair and want to give it a bit of a lift, one thing for sure is I am not able to give a demo as my hair is and always has been short but testing this out with my partner and daughter was fun and I now get an insight to the beauty regime my teenager has and my partner and it is fun and it is great to see what is on offer, which brings me to a point on how expensive can a product get and is it worth it and I say this I have reviewed dental products before but now seeing toothbrushes for sale for a THOUSAND EURO… Like really is there a need and does it so the same job as s smart toothbrush costing less than 100 euro being conservative.. One brand I have noticed being Dyson for example which could be compared Apple and their prices and I am going delve more into this over the coming months.

This heats up rather quick and has temperature controls on the handle and you have a stand built in on it to restit when not in use now you would want to be careful not to touch the rollers as they are obviously hot and the ladies both reported back that they enjoyed using the product and you can see the results below for yourself, Now I am no hair expert by any stretch and people have different hair types but having to people test it below you can see the results for yourself and it is such a simple product to use that gets the job done from what I see.

 

 

Features

  • Hot ceramic deep triple big wave barrels for flawless bouncy beach waves
  • Crimp-free design to create flowing boho or beach waves that will not leave any creases in the hair
  • Ultra-fast Pro PTC heater for ultimate fast heat-up and heat recovery
  • Progloss™ super smooth oils Keratin, Argan and Coconut infused ceramic triple barrels for ultimate smoothness
  • Ultimate fast variable heat 210ºC – 120ºC – ready to style in seconds to suit all hair types and looks
  • Ceramic and ionic barrels for frizz free, big waves with less static
  • Auto shut off after 60 minutes
  • 3m salon swivel cable
  • Built-in product stand
  • Heat resistant glove
  • Suitable for use on dry

BUY

START FROM SCRATCH – Pioneer DJ workshops set to celebrate International Women’s Day

Pioneer DJ announces an upcoming series of workshops to celebrate International Women’s Day, which took place on Tuesday March 8, 2023. Throughout the month of April, female identifiers participating in the in-person UK workshops will have the chance to learn new skills and gain insight into effective ways to pursue a career in music.

With 20 places available for each workshop, topics include: An Introduction to DJing, An Introduction to Scratching, and An Introduction to Music Production – which focuses on career progression in the music industry (DJing or otherwise). Participants will learn to use Pioneer DJ equipment under the guidance of international artists, DJ schools, and Pioneer DJ product experts.

The intention behind the Start From Scratch programme is to support minoritised and underrepresented communities. The goal is to create a safe and productive space to nurture talent. Pioneer DJ has a commitment to making sure that there is increased diversity within this industry. Research shows that targeted events like these help close the gap.

Check out the dates, times, and locations for the workshops in the table below and sign up here. More information about International Women’s Day can be found here.

Special thanks go to the incredible partners for supporting this celebratory moment and facilitating workshops and training: On the Rise DJ School, Plastic DJ Academy, Vibra Music School, Cantieri Culturali, Auberge Napoleon, reason Studios, Fluidae Collective, Connect’Her and BoxPark Wembley. 

Esri maps influential women around the world and invites submissions from the public

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map which celebrates inspirational women in Ireland and around the world for International Women’s Day which falls today, Wednesday 8th March.

Esri Ireland’s female employees have contributed to the map by sharing stories of influential figures who have made positive impacts on their lives. From architects in Africa and swimmers in Sydney to authors in America and botanists in Bantry, this interactive map demonstrates the influence of women across borders.

Esri Ireland is also inviting the public to share their own stories about women who have inspired them. These women can be anyone who serves as a role model, mentor, or source of motivation, whether they have made an impact through small acts in their daily lives or significant contributions in the public sphere. The aim of the map is to highlight ‘lesser-known’ women, showcasing the diversity and breadth of women’s contributions around the world.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity. The purpose is to encourage global conversations on why equal opportunities aren’t enough and why equal isn’t always fair. Everyone starts from a different place in life, so true inclusion involves equitable action. According to recent data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), less than one-third (32%) of Ireland’s information and communications technology (ICT) workers are women.

Esri Ireland embraces a diverse workforce, 40% of which are female. All employees who join Esri Ireland are assigned a career coach who offers mentorship and guidance to help advance their career path.

Ørsted become first renewable energy sponsor of STEM showcase for young women

Leading global renewable energy company Ørsted, has become the first renewable energy company to sponsor the I Wish STEM showcase event which promotes careers in STEM to young women. The ninth annual I Wish STEM Showcase attracted 3,000 female students to the event in Dublin, with more than 15,000 attending virtually.

During the Girls in STEM 10 Fast Facts panel discussion, Olivia Roche, Project Developer at Ørsted spoke about her experience as a woman in STEM and the diversity of her role at Ørsted. She shared insights with those attending on the development of wind and solar farms in Ireland and globally, as well as the processes behind securing land, engaging with communities, and working with planners and environmental experts to assess projects’ possible impacts. Ørsted has to date invested over €500m in Irish renewables, managing 10% of the total wind assets across the island of Ireland which is equivalent to powering over 250,000 homes. Their Irish headquarters are based in Cork City, where it employs 90 people. 

Lack of role models, education and training opportunities are stopping Irish women from working in tech

New research by HelloFresh Ireland has found 42% of Irish women between the ages of 16 and 27 are unlikely to pursue a career in tech, citing too many barriers to entering a career in the industry. The world’s leading meal kit company and integrated food solutions group conducted a survey of 1,000 young people, in partnership with Kantar*, to understand how young people in Ireland perceive a career in the tech industry. HelloFresh recently launched in Ireland, marking the company’s 18th market launch as part of its global growth strategy.

The survey found one in five (19%) of young women felt discouraged from entering the tech sector because their gender put them at a disadvantage. Three in four women (76%) said the tech sector is dominated by men, and only 61% of men think the same way.

The women surveyed said there is a sense of prestige that comes from working in the tech industry thanks to its associated perks and benefits (61%), job prospects (65%) and opportunity to have a positive impact on society (27%). However, HelloFresh found that the majority of women (54%)  don’t think their current skillset is suitable for the industry. In total, one in three (34%) women admitted that they didn’t know how to enter the field.

Role models were identified as an important factor in encouraging more women into the tech sector with 58% of respondents saying they would like to see better representation of women in tech leadership positions. Respondents also mentioned that access to training and scholarships (50%) and support to build skills (37%) would help them enter the sector. HelloFresh is in its second year of running a Women in Tech scholarship programme, which includes mentoring and financial support.

Annie Meininghaus, Senior Vice President of Product at HelloFresh, commented: “I’m not hugely surprised by the findings of this survey, with many women who have pursued tech having already faced these challenges. I enjoy being part of a company that recognises these struggles and actively supports women pursuing careers in technology. I’m looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of Women in Tech scholarship recipients, and further increasing the diversity in the tech sector.”

HelloFresh will re-launch the Women in Tech program this year and double the number of participants, offering more women the chance to step into a tech career from a non-tech background. The company has hired six women from different tech and coding bootcamps, who will work in Frontend and as Data Analyst interns in Berlin. In addition to the paid internship, the women are provided with a scholarship of 10,000 Euros each to support their educational and living costs. Each intern is assigned a woman mentor from HelloFresh’s tech team.

Suzi Filipowska, former Women in Tech scholarship participant and Frontend Engineer at HelloFresh: “Coming from a non tech background, it was daunting to change my career path, however through the Women in Tech scholarship at HelloFresh I was able to do so. Now, I’m continuing my career in tech as a junior engineer at HelloFresh, and I couldn’t be more happy to do so.”

With its Employee Resource Groups, including the Gender Equality Team, HelloFresh fosters a diverse and empowering working environment among their 21.000+ employees from 90+ nationalities. With a third of HelloFresh’s Germany-based technology team identifying as women, HelloFresh is far above the national average of only 17% of women working in tech. The company committed to the Women Empowerment Principles (WEP) established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women.