19 Jan Essex Police holds a gender progression event for women in policing
We held an event to celebrate the success of our female colleagues and to support colleagues further in their career progression.
The event was held at Colchester Police Station on Monday January 16 and is the first of several gender progression events to be delivered across the county to police officers and police staff over the coming months.
Our Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh led the event alongside HR and the North Local Policing Area (LPA) senior team to show support and commitment to the gender progression events being delivered throughout the county.
Over 50 officers and staff, both male and female of all ranks listened and responded to various presentations and gave their thoughts and views on key themes that will help reduce or remove barriers that impact on career progression.
The audience listened to a range of speakers as well as a focus session on the career journeys of three successful women in our force. These women shared their very personal and inspirational stories including personal challenges, confidence difficulties as well as support mechanisms and role models that helped them in their career progression.
There were presentations on confidence and mind-set, how HR can support development and how the LPA demonstrates support to officers and staff who want to progress.
The gender progression event was organised by Rachel Evans, HR Project Manager and Lead for Professional Development for the Essex Police Women’s Leadership & Development Forum. She said: “It is really important that we provide opportunities for our staff and officers to engage and the gender progression events give our workforce a voice, whether you are male or female, officers or staff there are things that can impact on your progression: confidence, having a family, losing motivation to name a few. These events help our organisation understand the issues and work to improve things.”
The Essex Police Women’s Leadership & Development Forum (WLDF) provides support for all female officers and staff within Essex Police and aims to empower officers and staff to be the best they can be. It is one of many networks within our force which promotes equal opportunities.
The WLDF members work together as a supportive network to raise awareness and understanding of issues affecting women within Essex Police and strives to give women a voice and encourage them in their on-going personal and professional development.
