WorkEqual visits Cork to support 50 women reach dream job

Women who wish to enter the world of work for the first time, or return to work, are invited to come along to a free interactive workshop in Cork on Wednesday, September 25 at the Imperial Hotel.

Registered charity WorkEqual is hosting the event, which will offer 50 attendees the opportunity to have a one-to-one chat about reaching their dream job, as well as a personal styling session with a professional stylist.

Everyone will leave the morning workshop equipped with new skills for entering the jobs markets, as well as a specially selected pre-loved outfit for their next interview.

Attendees will also have the option of continuing to work with a WorkEqual coach or mentor, without any charge, for as long as the support is needed.

WorkEqual was founded in 2011 by TV presenter, designer and social entrepreneur Sonya Lennon to provide professional workplace styling and career consulting to women in the Dublin region.

Since then, it has evolved into a national organisation, providing services to women across Ireland, partnering with relevant networks, agencies and employers nationwide.

Its vision is to create a country where everyone’s skills and potential are recognised by a society that champions workplace equality and fair remuneration.

CEO Su Duff explained how they identified a gap for their services in Cork and held a small workshop here last March.

“It was booked out in 48 hours so we vowed to come back. We spent the summer building our local network of volunteer experts and are being supported in our endeavours by an incredible network of local women who want to help others enter or return to the workplace,” she said.

The support has been incredible she added, from corporates keen to share their diverse skills, along with others including stylist Sharon Huggard and mentor Sian Horn.

Those who usually attend workshops are women who are marginalised in some way, and those who previously had a career but took time out to raise a family and feel that things have changed.

“A lot of things have improved for women but it’s still different for them, and even the most ambitious women will face challenges, and will need supports as well as those who have taken time away from work,” said Su.

Typically, nine out of 10 women who are mentored by WorkEqual reach their employment goal within six months, and over the past 13 years, WorkEqual’s volunteer network and bespoke initiatives have helped 6,000 people move forward in their career journey.

“Our free services are grounded in an ethos of kindness, respect and understanding, so we meet people exactly where they are on their path to employment, ensuring every support is very tailored and at the right pace for each person.

“As a result, WorkEqual clients talk about having renewed self-belief, feelings of significance, value and readiness to work.

“We believe that anyone attending our event at the Imperial Hotel in Cork will feel like they’ve made a significant step in this direction.”

Event partners are Primark/Penneys, Irish Rail and Intreo.

Rosie Valentine, Director of Communications, Inclusion and Engagement at Primark, said: “At Penneys, we help women to look and feel good through fashion that is affordable and accessible. Supporting women through key milestones in their lives is something we care deeply about, as well as making a positive impact in our communities. 

Over the past year, we’ve supported WorkEqual to deliver a number of events for women looking to (re)enter the workforce and take the next steps in their careers. This event in Cork is a fantastic way to drive awareness of their services to support even more women across Ireland.

To continue expanding the number of people benefitting from WorkEqual’s free services, the charity will hold additional interactive workshops in Cork in 2025, while also planning to establish networks in other cities around Ireland.

“Ideally, we’ll hold three to four events in Cork every year, and will find venues that can accommodate up to 100 women,” said Su.

This month’s WorkEqual interactive workshop runs from 9.45am/10am – 2pm on Wednesday, September 25 and has 50 spaces for women. Anyone interested to request a ticket can sign up at www.WorkEqual.ie . WorkEqual will confirm successful ticket requests by email.