As highlighted on Good Morning Britain recently, women are struggling to manage the rising costs of childcare. Whilst the UK government has promised a quota of free and subsidised childcare, families are still struggling to manage the costs which can equate to around £15,000 a year – the equivalent of sending a child to private school. 4Children’s recent study showed that 1/5 of parents now consider reducing their working hours or quitting because it is more cost efficient.

SmartPA’s pledge to get 25,000 women back to work in the UK couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. Through their low-cost product SmartPA Home, SmartPA will provide thousands of homeworking opportunities – enabling women to run their own PA and Administrative services business from home. Estimated to contribute around £625 million to the UK economy, SmartPA’s pledge not only tackles female unemployment but the challenges faced by mothers who work full-time, including childcare.

SmartPA’s innovative technology and training will provide thousands of mothers with a steady income and bypass other hurdles, such as rising travel costs and discrimination – an issue that affects around 50% of women returning to work after maternity leave.

SmartPA co-founder Sarra Bejaoui comments, “More and more women are returning to work after maternity leave. However rising childcare costs, alongside the gender pay gap and discrimination, mean it’s harder than ever for women returning to work. SmartPA Home provides the solution to an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.”

SmartPA have already helped numerous women successfully get back to work through their franchise programme – currently priced at £10,000. Now the fastest growing Partnership amongst women in the UK aged 35-55, SmartPA have enabled 49 women to establish themselves as thriving home business owners.

SmartPA co-founder Sarra Bejaoui is scheduled to meet Kezia Dugdale, Deputy to Jim Murphy, at the Scottish Parliament next week to discuss getting women back to work and female re-offending rates in Scotland.

In Spring 2015, SmartPA will also host an intimate lunch at the House of Lords alongside Lord Foulkes to address how we can get more women back to work in the UK and tackle the issues faced by working mothers.