Opportunity Now, the employer organisation working to ensure inclusiveness for women in the workplace, has launched its Exemplar Employer initiative this autumn, involving over 80 employers doing innovative work to address occupational segregation, equal pay, and career opportunities for women, including Anglia Ruskin University. The Exemplar Employer initiative comes in response to the Women and Work Commission report, "Shaping a Fairer Future". This report made recommendations to address the gaps that still exist between men and women in the workplace, over 30 years after the Equal Pay Act. Anglia Ruskin's successful application to the initiative was based on its recent and continuing work with the Women's Network.

At the Women's Conference 2006, maximising one's personal effectiveness at work was identified as a crucial but sometimes overlooked component of staff satisfaction and a high-quality student experience. Related to this is the development of career progression routes, an issue of major importance to the University, and a particular concern of support staff, 75% of whom are women. During 2006-7 there are plans to pilot psychometric test which helps to identify motives, preferences, needs and talents at work, with the aim of informing future career development. Initially, priority will be given to support staff with line management responsibilities. There are also plans to link this work to a review and revision of the support staff appraisal process.

The combined programme is being led by Sonia Young, Organisational Development Manager, herself an active member of the Network.