In an Australia and New Zealand wide first, the AIP, in collaboration with Emberin, is pleased to announce the launch of the Ignite Packaging mentoring program for women working in the food, beverage, manufacturing and packaging industries.

Ignite Packaging is a powerful, self-paced development program that transforms women both professionally and personally. The mentoring program has a unique and proven learning format and the learning methodology is manageable, sustained and practical.

Master new skills

The program enables participants to master new skills and techniques over a 12 week period that allows them to create new patterns of behaviour, whilst increasing self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. They will also have access to fortnightly webinars with guest speakers from within the packaging industry.

A spokesperson for the AIP commented:

More than 14,000 women in other industries have completed this program and the AIP feels it is time that this program was made available for mentoring women in the packaging industry. For participants in Ignite Packaging, on an individual level, it is a powerful tool for developing women's thinking around their career and business – developing them into stronger assets for companies and high-potential staff.

Ignite Packaging will deliver a number of side-benefits to organisations including stronger engagement levels and generally a significantly improved culture. Additionally, the program provides organisations with a powerful employee brand and employee benefit tool – helping them to attract and retain females in their workforce.

The AIP believes there is a strong business case for attracting and retaining women across the packaging industry and Ignite Packaging addresses many of the obstacles experienced by women in a predominately male workforce. Ignite Packaging is quite simply about ensuring that the women in this industry can be the best they can be.

Apply or sponsor participants

The aim of the pilot is to have all Australian states represented in this program, as well as New Zealand participants. The pilot program was launched at the 2014 AIP National Conference and applications close on the 25th of July. The AIP invites every company in the industry to 'sponsor' two participants in the Ignite Packaging pilot program and encourage their female workforce to participate.

For an application form email: [email protected].