News / Women's Work Lab
Bristol-founded female social enterprise branches out to Birmingham
A Bristol-founded social enterprise has broken new ground by branching out into Birmingham.
The all-female social enterprise, Women’s Work Lab (WWL), has so far helped around 600 local mums return to work, empowering them to rebuild their lives and careers.
Founded in 2019 by Camilla Rigby and Rachel Mostyn, WWL supports mothers of all ages who find themselves struggling to re-enter the workplace after maternity leave, and in many cases, after escaping abusive relationships.
The organisation delivers free, fully-funded, bespoke employment programmes designed to facilitate a return to meaningful work.
Women’s Work Lab has so so far supported 600 local mums back to work with its bespoke programmes
WWL already has a strong presence across the West Country, including Gloucester, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and its home base in Bristol.
Its latest venture in Birmingham is expected to amplify its impact, helping more mums across the Midlands back into employment.
Unemployed mums in Birmingham are now invited to apply for a free 12-month programme designed to help them rebuild their careers and secure meaningful work.
The initiative is a partnership between BMet College and Women’s Work Lab, funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Rigby Foundation. Pilot schemes will launch in January and April 2026.
Running during school hours, the programme combines classroom training, a four-week work placement, and nine months of tailored career support and mentoring.
Birmingham faces some of the highest levels of child poverty and unemployment in the UK, with more than half of children in some areas living in poverty.
To date, WWL has achieved a 92 per cent graduation rate, with 68 per cent of participants moving into work, training, or volunteering within nine months. Many describe the programme as “life-changing.”
Women’s Work Lab was founded back in 2019 in Bristol
Rachel Mostyn, co-founder of Women’s Work Lab, said: “Having spent eight years developing, delivering and honing our HIVE programme in the South West, we are excited to be expanding into Birmingham.
“We know how needed our specialist support is and cannot wait to support more mums in recognising their potential, whilst introducing employers to so much new talent. The impact of our work goes well beyond just ‘getting a job’ – it’s transformative for the whole family and creates hope and aspiration for all.”
Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, added: “The Women’s Work Lab offers mums an effective way to learn new skills and get into work, giving them the support they need to improve their quality of life, strengthen their local communities and get our economy growing again. This is how we change thousands of lives for the better.”
Women’s Work Lab has already been recognised nationally for its efforts, receiving the Points of Light Award from then-prime minister Rishi Sunak and the University of Cambridge’s Social Innovation Prize.
Women’s Work Lab has won several national awards, including a Points of Light Award from then-prime minister Rishi Sunak
All photos: Women’s Work Lab
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