© Imperial College LondonPage 1 Initiatives in the Division of Investigative Science Prof Steve Bloom Head of Division

© Imperial College LondonPage 2 BACKGROUND Complaints from female academics –Lack of childcare support –Lack of information regarding rights, schemes or options –Practical difficulties of combining family and research Survival Kit for Women developed Research/discussions resulted in more ideas for initiatives

© Imperial College LondonPage 3 FINDINGS IN RESEARCHING THE DOCUMENT Communication regarding what is available is poor There is no forum where needs are discussed or information between parents exchanged Equality Awards and strategy make little impact on the ground- practical developments are needed

© Imperial College LondonPage 4 RESULTING PHILOSOPHY CREATE OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE CAN HELP EACH OTHER GIVE PEOPLE INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS CREATE A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL VALUED AND SUPPORTED

© Imperial College LondonPage 5 THE INITATIVES Giving Information –Women’s Survival Kit Career and Family Promotion and Reward Flexible working and Career Breaks Fixed term contracts an women Sexual discrimination and harassment Words of wisdom, sources of inspiration Practical information and sources of information –Suggested website like Berkeley –Speakers: Dr Annette Beck-Sickenger

© Imperial College LondonPage 6 THE INITATIVES Opportunities for people to help each other Imperial Committee? Harnesses practical suggestions for what can be done Members can potentially develop and implement changes Network for sharing information –Job Share Register for current employees Valuable Imperial employees are retained Opens up full-time jobs to part time workers where previously would not have been considered Easily implemented (although level of interest unknown- proposal with HR) –Play Scheme College holds an introduction event for parents to meet based on campus or post-code College provides some guidelines and information on amenities local to its campuses for ideas Parents make their own arrangements to share lifts, take turns for childcare over holidays etc

© Imperial College LondonPage 7 THE INITATIVES Creating a culture –Trying to raise funds for a Julia Polak Fellowship to help female academics returning to work. Unlikely to raise much unless it could become a College initiative –Women document sent to all new female starters –Parent based website should be prominent and include all relevant information, salary sacrifice, childcare and any other initiatives –Parents/women encouraged through committees and networks to help Imperial College improve the support it provides –Existence and public knowledge of schemes creates family/female friendly environment

© Imperial College LondonPage 8 TAKING THE INITATIVES FORWARD Women document completed – will be sent to all starters in IS. (College-wide version could be developed) Job Share Register – initiative with HR to be looked at “after the summer” Play Scheme- initiative discussed with HR for College wide approach – no further development ( IS keen to pilot) – this committee could establish with its first task being to identify and write information for a Parents Network website Would the College fundraise for our own “returning women fellowship”?