WAVE- Women Adding Value to the Economy
WAVE-Women Adding Value to the Economy- has been created to address workplace and labour market practices, specifically gender earning disparities in employment and self-employment. The aim of the WAVE project is to contribute to tackling the causes of gender pay gaps in Wales. Its aim is to achieve this through targeted activities, working with employers, employees and self-employed women. WAVE is funded by the Convergence European Social Fund through the Welsh Government.
The three main strands of the WAVE project are:
Cardiff University
Develops tools and techniques based on research with employers to challenge gender-based inequalities in organisations. With particular attention to pay inequalities, the aim being to replace them with a more equitable system.
The Women’s Workshop Project @ BAWSO Ltd
Aims to empower and upskill women to progress in and move into non-traditional sectors and technical career paths, to access higher valued and better paid areas of work.
The University of South Wales
Lead partner in WAVE and also delivers activities which aim to empower and to up-skill women who are either already in, or aiming towards self-employment; encouraging and enabling them to achieve higher earnings.
The two entrepreneurs talk to Female First about their journey and having successful businesses.
Helen Walbey- Owner of Rideout Motorcycles and Scooters
Helen Walbey is the owner Rideout Motorcycles and Scooters in Cwmbach, the only scooter salvaging company in Wales. Trading primarily on the online marketplace website, eBay, the ten year old business has gone from strength to strength and now exports around the world and employs four people.
The 39 year old from Cwmaman has had a personal interest in motorcycles and scooters that stems back for years, having ridden them since she was in her 20s as a hobby.
However, it was during personal turmoil that the business started back in 2002 when Helen’s husband, Stephen, was involved in a workplace accident that almost took his life. With her husband unable to work, Helen was on the verge of bankruptcy and so resorted to selling their own personal motorcycle stock just to make ends meet.
Speaking of this traumatic event, Helen said: “It was a very difficult time for us because my husband was unable to work due to his severe injuries so I was helping to keep the roof over our heads by selling what motorcycle stock we had in our shed.
“It was during this time that I found that there was a great demand from customers for the parts we were providing and so decided to set up Recycle Scooters and make a living from it. This company has now expanded to cover motorcycles too and was renamed Rideout Motorcycles and Scooters in 2014.”
In order to help drive the business forward, Helen has enrolled on a business enterprise course delivered by WAVE – Women Adding Value to the Economy – project that is leading the way in tackling the underlying causes of, and leading a national conversation on, gender pay gaps in employment and self-employment in Wales.
Speaking of her decision to study with WAVE, Helen said: “I am very aware that I am currently working in a stereotypically male environment and that there are perceptions from customers that I am just the receptionist. I will often get calls from customers who ask if they can speak to a man because they feel I don’t have the knowledge to help with their inquiry.
“I struggle with customers who come into the store and will only address my husband before speaking to my directly. The course has helped with my confidence when dealing with these everyday assumptions and has aided in my understanding of how to run a business.
“The course has been extremely beneficial to me and I have now been given the opportunity to go on to a post-graduate degree and develop my understanding of business enterprise.”
In recent months, Helen has formed partnerships with local colleges to take on automotive apprentices, offering them all important work experience and hopes to encourage more women to get into the industry.
Lesley Owen- Owner of Fifi Stitch
Lesley Owen is the owner of Fifi Stitch, a small company that produces personalised handmade teddy bears. Upon graduating, the fashion student originally planned on starting her own clothing company; however her aspirations changed following the birth of her nephew in 2011.
Lesley said: “When my nephew was born in 2011, I made him a teddy bear as a gift. I was confident in my sewing skills and decided to try my hand at bear crafting. After which teddy bear creating became something I couldn't put down and so I then fuelled the hobby by selling my bears online.
Lesley, aged 25, has been self-employed since September 2013 when she also started a postgraduate diploma delivered by WAVE – Women Adding Value to the Economy – project that is leading the way in tackling the underlying causes of, and leading a national conversation on, gender pay gaps in employment and self-employment in Wales.
Speaking of her experience on the course, Lesley said: “I applied for the course with the ambition to turn the Fifi Stitch brand into something special after already creating a platform online. I know I needed the confidence that comes with having better knowledge of business. It was then that I decided to bite the bullet and set up a formal business at the same time as beginning the post-graduate diploma through WAVE.
“Before the course I couldn't imagine having the status business woman or entrepreneur but now I have more confidence in myself, my abilities and knowledge to manage my business. The first piece of knowledge I applied was a price increase, after finding out I had seriously undervalued my work for years before hand. Before the course I would never have had the confidence to take that step for fear of losing customers.
“I now also understand the importance of networking which I've become more active with, and have also gained valuable mentors from contacts that the WAVE post graduate course encouraged, which has developed my confidence and self-efficacy; two crucial things I now understand to have always been my biggest barriers.
For further information about WAVE, visit www.wavewales.co.uk
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