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Free workshop for 50 women taking place on 25th September in Cork City where attendees will receive 1:1 career mentoring and styling for interview as part of their ongoing pathway to employment
WorkEqual invites women who wish to enter or return to work to come along to a free interactive workshop in Cork on Wednesday, 25th September at the Imperial Hotel. Thanks to the support of Penneys, Irish Rail, and the Irish Public Employment Service, Intreo, the WorkEqual event will offer 50 attendees the opportunity to have a 1:1 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 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
Typically, nine out of 10 women who are mentored by WorkEqual reach their employment goal within 6 months. This is thanks to the knowledge and skill of volunteers who come from business workplaces across Ireland, as well as a network for professional stylists whose expertise provides wardrobe solutions and boosts confidence. Over the past 13 years, WorkEqual’s volunteer network and bespoke initiatives have helped 6,000 people move forward in their career journey.
Commenting ahead of the upcoming Cork event, WorkEqual CEO Su Duff said: “It’s thanks to the generous support from our new network of volunteers in Cork, significant financial assistance from Penneys, logistical help from Irish Rail and on the ground engagement with Intreo, that we’re able to build this superb inaugural service in Cork this month.”
She added, “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.”
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. This month’s WorkEqual interactive workshop runs from 9.45am/10am – 2pm on Wednesday 25th September and has 50 spaces for women. Anyone interested to request a ticket can sign up through our website’s contact page.