Women's Work Lab Co-Founders Awarded Honorary Doctorates by UWE Bristol
Video from the UWE Graduation Ceremony
Camilla Rigby and Rachel Mostyn, co-founders of the Women’s Work Lab, are thrilled to have been awarded Honorary Doctors of Business Administration by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).
This honorary degree recognises Camilla and Rachel’s leadership and unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers which prevent mums from returning to meaningful employment.
The WWL has now supported 800 mums - and with those mums it’s also their families and their children who benefit too. They have a mum with increased confidence and with new employability skills. Businesses who provide work placements also benefit, as they see first hand the value of inclusive hiring - and in turn this benefits the wider local communities too. So the ripple effect of supporting mums is huge. We support mums in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, Somerset and North Somerset.
As part of the ceremony, UWE highlighted some of the reasons why Camila and Rachel were selected:
“As working mothers, Rachel and Camilla were acutely aware of the barriers mums face getting into work. They share a vision to enable all mums in the UK, irrespective of their background or barriers, to realise their professional potential and be the role models that they want to be for their children. They are passionate about empowering a hidden, talented, multiskilled workforce in society that is being overlooked and underutilised.
Camilla and Rachel’s individual journeys are incredible, but collaboratively they have successfully engineered societal change and had a significant impact in the South West region.”
Why is this work vital?
Returning to work after time away can be challenging. For mums, this can be even harder. Many mums face obstacles including caring responsibilities, low confidence, financial pressures or a lack of flexible employment opportunities. Many mums on our programme also face additional barriers, such as health conditions, not having English as a first language or being survivors of domestic abuse.
We support mums to rebuild their confidence, develop workplace skills, connect with employers and access meaningful employment opportunities. We believe that when mums thrive, families, businesses and communities thrive too.
The Women's Work Lab was founded with a simple but powerful purpose: to ensure these barriers do not define a woman's future. It was designed by mums, for mums. Through our support, all mums can thrive.
Looking Ahead
While this honorary degree is a significant milestone, it also serves as motivation for the future.
There are still many mums who face barriers to employment, and our mission continues. We remain committed to expanding our reach, strengthening partnerships with employers and ensuring more women can access the support they need to realise their potential.
To every woman who has joined a Women's Work Lab programme, thank you for inspiring us every day.