European funding has been made available to encourage Scottish women into science, engineering and technology industries.
The European Social Fund has awarded a grant of £217,000 to the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science Engineering and Technology based at Edinburgh Napier University.
A recent report claimed that the low number of women employed in science, engineering and technology industries damaged the Scottish economy by reinforcing skills deficits and holding back productivity.
Dr Sandra Cairncross, Dean of Engineering, Computing and Creative Industries at the university, said in a statement: "This work will help address skill shortages through recruiting and retaining increased numbers of women into science, computing and engineering.
"It will also help us in opening the door for many women to a rewarding and worthwhile career."
The project is to use the funding to make employment terms and workplace cultures more supportive to women through practices such as flexible working and diversity awareness.
Female employees will be given advice on career progression, the development of leadership skills and diversity training.
Employers will be encouraged to support the recruitment, retention, promotion and effective participation of women in their organisations.
Jenny Tizard, director of the resource centre, said: "This grant will support our work in promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.
"It will help us to address the under-representation of women in certain sectors of the Scottish workforce and will have a real impact on making Scotland a fairer place to work in the 21st century."
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Last updated: 21 May 2009, 22:11
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