Hi all,
I wanted to canvas some peoples opinions on the situation that I have just found myself in, specifically I want to know if you think I am being discriminated against or not, and if this is fair or unfair :)
Ok, so most of you know me but anyhow I am 25 year old British national, I don't have much in the way of formal education qualifications because I was taken out of school at age 13 due to illness. I have found employment with a few good companies in the UK in the past few years etc. Last year I took a job with a small ISP who after I had been working with them for 6 months was acquired by a much larger ISP and the end result was that I no longer had a job.
Since then I have been looking for work in East Anglia or relevant training. Just over a month ago there was an advert in Eastern Daily Press where City College Norwich was offering free a course covering the "CISCO network academy" program, this is basically going to get you a CCNA if you pay for the exams. Anyhow, it didn't work out because they claimed that they didn't have enough interest for them to run the course.
Today, I am reading the Eastern Daily Press and I see a big advert with the title "Women into Networking" which is a free course, for people aged 19 or over which covers the "CISCO network academy" and also gives you the A+ certificate at the end of it. The course is receiving special funding from the government and the European Social Fund. Of course there is a big catch, "women only" now as Kirsty will be able to confirm, I am most definitely not a woman. Now I would like some opinions from people here about
a. is this sexual discrimination? b. is this fair? c. am i justified in complaining about this? d. do you know of any good people to complain to? I am currently taking this up with the college, the job centre, the agencies who are providing funding to the course and local MPs and MEPs. I think I will contact the papers/tele/radio types next week.
I also noted that the same/similar program ran in Sweden 2 years ago and was also promoted by the European Social Fund the ESF (UK part of) proclaim on the front page of their website "promoting employment oppurtunites for all" and how they manage their funding so that it provides equal opportunities for all.
Thanks Adam