Researchers at The Robert Gordon University’s Aberdeen Business School are continuing the second year of a study, funded by the European Social Fund, investigating any gender constraints on the employment, career progression, work-life balance, training and income-generating opportunities for women working in the Scottish creative industries. Further details can be found at http://www.rgu.ac.uk/abs/research/page.cfm?pge=12527

You or your company may already have participated in earlier stages of the project. These have consisted of a postal survey of creative companies in Scotland, telephone interviews with almost 140 individuals working in the sector, and around 50 best practice case studies of Scottish creative businesses.

As the next stage of the project, the research team is conducting a series of informal discussion groups throughout Scotland during November and December. It is anticipated that each of these sessions will be attended by a mix of professional, academic, organisational and employee representatives (both female and male) from the Scottish creative sector, and that they will allow a relaxed, open and informed discussion of the main issues identified in the research so far.

Some of these groups will look at issues affecting women in the creative sector in general, while others will focus on those issues affecting women in specific industries, such as: print and broadcast journalism; film, television and radio; and the performing arts.

We would like to take this opportunity of inviting you to attend and participate in one of these discussion groups, the full programme of which appears below. Each session will last for a maximum of two hours and will be recorded on audio tape, for subsequent transcription and analysis, although it should be emphasised that the anonymity of participants will be preserved in the final results.

Complimentary light refreshments will be provided, and participants' travel expenses will be reimbursed, if required.

Programme of Discussion Groups

Wednesday, 9th November 10am - Noon Abertay University, Dundee
Subject: Women in the creative industries in general

Wednesday, 9th November 2pm - 4pm Abertay University, Dundee
Subject: Women in the creative industries in general

Thursday, 10th November 10am - Noon Glasgow Caledonian University
Subject: Women in film, TV, radio, music and the performing arts

Thursday, 10th November 2pm - 4pm Glasgow Caledonian University
Subject: Women in print and broadcast journalism

Friday, 11th November 10am - Noon Glasgow Caledonian University
Subject: Women in public relations, advertising and marketing

Friday, 11th November 2pm - 4pm Glasgow Caledonian University
Subject: Women in the visual arts, crafts, architecture and design

Tuesday, 29th November 10am - Noon Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
Subject: Women in book and periodical publishing

Tuesday, 29th November 2pm - 4pm Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
Subject: Women in new media and computer games

Thursday, 1st December 10am - Noon Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Inverness
Subject: Women in the creative industries in general

Thursday, 1st December 2pm - 4pm Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Inverness
Subject: Women in the creative industries in general

If you would like to participate in one of these sessions, please reply to Christine Forbes at c.h.forbes@rgu.ac.uk  
indicating your preferred location, date and time. Precise details of the venue and arrangements for your chosen discussion group will be sent to you nearer the time.

If you would like further information about this project please contact Lorraine Illingworth on 01224 263477 or l.illingworth@rgu.ac.uk , or Graeme Baxter on 01224 263889 or g.baxter@rgu.ac.uk.