Britain's 50 New Radicals

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49. Women Like Us

Website: www.womenlikeus.org.uk

Women Like Us is a social enterprise recruitment firm which helps women find part time work they can fit alongside family commitments, and also gives them support when returning to work.  In 2004, Emma Stewart and Karen Mattison, two friends and former colleagues both found themselves in the same position. Both were mums to young families, who had tried and failed to balance full time work with family.

Realising that there was a gap in the recruitment market for professional part time roles they launched their own service.  The organisation offers women workshops on tackling CVs, interviews and career direction with a number of free places given to those from low income backgrounds.

Women Like Us now has 30,000 women on its books and has recruited staff ranging from part time IT managers through to part time heads of communications. It finds staff for small businesses and corporate and large organisations such as Santander, Ofcom and Tesco. In 2010 Karen and Emma were made MBEs in The Queen's birthday honours list.