The Environmental Industry has a gender imbalance with 69% of employees being male and 31% female. It is increasingly being recognised that this balance is due to deep seated cultural attitudes and results in an internal skills gap. The Waste Management Industry has an even higher proportion of male employees (>80%) and is at present starting to recognise the need for action to address this. The turnover for the wider industry is in excess of £4 bn. The turnover for waste disposal companies alone is in excess of £1 bn. Company profitability is increasingly being seen as linked to the development of a suitably qualified and motivated staff base.

To drive forward the agenda, an UK Network for waste management (WARMNET) in HE has been formed in 2003. This represents around 50 HE Institutions in the UK, some 35 widely distributed across England. WARMNET is strongly supported by the waste management industry as well as the Voluntary Sector etc. It is perceived as being the vehicle for a positive transformation in the relationships between all players in waste management and HE, with the concomitant benefits in terms of suitably qualified and well prepared graduates entering the industry.

WWARM will start to address many of the issues relating to the support and development of female students to empower and enable for a career in the waste management industry and / or research. Building upon WARMNET developments it will have a strategy that will deliver, through a range of activities on 3 strands: Retaining and attracting female students to SET undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses Initiate links with employers to enable and encourage female into SET employment Developing mechanisms to support females in SET onto higher study and research

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Women into Waste and Resource Management(WWARM)

A WARMNET project, funded through dfes and based at SITA Centre, Northampton

The WWARM Steering Committee will ensure that: The project is mainstreamed throughout 35 HEIs across England Appropriate Mentoring is offered to scheme members There are very strong links to Industry Research is promoted and encouraged as a career The scheme is sustainable for the long term through the utilisation of external resources The development of a scheme member Forum Dissemination is widespread and appropriate

Main Objectives for Year 1 of scheme1.The formation of a dedicated WARMNET sub group, supported by external partners, that will address the urgent gender issues involved concerning females.2. The formation of a mentoring group to help retain and attract female students. 3. The development of links and projects with employers. 4. Mainstreaming the project within HE, through WARMNET strategies and plans.5. Formation of a Student Forum run by scheme members.6. Dissemination of the best practice.

Some planned activities:Mentoring:Development and production of mentoring scheme (Spring 2005)A national, WARMNET, 2-day, conference for scheme membersAt least 25 scheme members from English HEIs enrolling for mentoring

Links with IndustryA presence at CIWM annual conferenceAt least 30 scheme members from English HEIs gaining work experience / forming links

Research6 seminars held across England (regionally) to mentor research capacity for scheme members (March – December 2005)A, 1 day research workshop held at UCN (Summer 2005)

DisseminationAn Internet site for communication / dissemination (Spring 2005)Articles in industrial / commercial journalsAwareness raising session at CIWM annual conference10 Case Studies for Internet Site

What can WWARM do for you? There are bursaries to encourage females to attend the WARMNET conference Come to you University to hold seminars on research / publication Mentor your students Enable your students to get involved in this interesting project and take a leading role

What can you do for WWARM? Encourage your students to get involved and to contact WWARM group Contact WWARM group about interesting new developments Set up seminars for WWARM staff to interface with your students

Contacts:Dr Margaret Bates: margaret.bates@northampton.ac.ukProfessor Paul S. Phillips: paul.phillips@northampton.ac.uk

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