New opportunities are opening up for women across the Highlands and Islands through the announcement of continued funding for the development programme 'Women @ Work'.

'Women @ Work' aims to promote training and development for women in three key areas: management, business and public life through, workshops and seminars and access to training.

Mary Allan, who is based at the Workers Educational Association (WEA) in Inverness has been responsible for the management of the project over the past year. She is delighted that further funding has been secured.

She said: " This project is about facilitating access for women. Over the past year we have identified the training and support needs of women in these three areas and have begun to establish networks allowing women to develop their potential in these fields.

"We organise a wide variety of training days and workshops that equip women with the skills they need to fulfil their aspirations. This could be anything from setting up in business to becoming a Justice of the Peace for their area. We may not have the information they need to hand, but can easily put them in touch with the right people.

"We have also established an Advisory Board with representatives from a wide spectrum of organisations from Children in Scotland to the European Business Services and the Highland Businesswomens Club. "

The development project is being managed by the WEA and is being supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) with a funding package worth £50,000 (pounds).

Skills development manager for HIE Bob Shanks said: "The research undertaken over the last year shows that women are greatly under-represented in the fields of management, business and public life. 'Women @ Work' has identified a number of barriers that prevent women from participating more fully in these fields such as a lack of transport, inflexible working practices and to few affordable childcare facilities."

"This project hopes to redress this imbalance by giving women support and advice and provides a forum where women can share experiences and information."

Women @ Work produce and circulate a newsletter bi-annually detailing local courses and workshops and are currently setting up a website, which will ease access of information for women living in rural areas.

This week the programme hosted a one-day seminar at the Beaufort Hotel in Inverness , "A Day in the Life of a Highland Woman MSP" where Maureen McMillan spoke about her varied career and the day-to-day challenges she faces in her role as a woman MSP.

Future seminars include "Presenting Yourself in Business" by Marlyn Taylor, a high profile Scottish sales manager on March 23rd 2000, in the Cluny Bank Hotel in Forres.

If you would like to attend the above seminars or would like information on future events, please contact Mary Allan on 01463 710577