Springboard Women′s Development Programme

The Springboard Women′s Development Programme has been helping many women in library and information work to fulfil their potential. Women who have taken part in this personal development course have become more confident and assertive, and their managers have found them more willing to put forward their ideas, take the initiative and take on additional responsibilities. Many achieve promotion, but women set their own agenda on the course, so they decide what they want to achieve and the steps they need to take. Describes issues which have arisen in connection with selecting participants, initial negative reactions from male colleagues, and scepticism from line managers, and how these have been overcome. Also gives details of the style and content of the course and explains why it needs to be for women only.