BBC North, McCann Manchester, Amazerealise, TBWA and Havas are some of the companies backing Creative Equals, an organisation set up to help women in the North get back into work.
The organisation champions diversity in the creative industries, with its Returners 2019 programme backed by a £65k Government grant.
It will be used to run a confidence-boosting bootcamp, with the aim of placing women on the course into roles with creative businesses across the North West.
“Going back to work after a career break is hugely daunting for women. With such a great amount of talent out there, we are looking for creative women who have been out for an extended break who want to retrain with some of the top creatives in the industry – and can find a job they love in companies who are open to flexible working, with job shares, part-time work or compressed hours,” explained founder, Ali Hanan.
The four day course will provide industry updates, confidence classes and workshops where women will work on a brief and present a live pitch. After the course, attendees will go on a 4-6 week placement with one of Creative Equals’s founding agency partners, receive coaching and be given funding to help cover childcare costs.
“It’s exciting to see Manchester championing the return to work for female creatives and once again leading the charge in equality,” said Caroline Pankhurst, Programme Director of Manchester-based coaching and training company Be Braver.
The Returners 2019 programme will be held from 19th-22nd March.