FORMER Scottish Labour deputy leader Lesley Laird is the new head of a STEM campaign group, it has been announced.

The former Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP has been appointed director of Equate Scotland, which seeks to break down barriers for women at work in science, technology, engineering and maths. 

The Scottish Government-funded organisation is based at Edinburgh University and was until recently led by Talat Yaqoob.

The former MP takes the helm at the height of the Covid-19 crisis and believes the pandemic has positively demonstrated the way people can break down barriers and adapt to change in difficult circumstances.

Equate Scotland is working to "change cultures in industry and the academic world" and support the recruitment, retention and progression of women in these key male-dominated sectors.

It delivers training and support and networking opportunities and works with employers to improve their team's practices and behaviours.

Laird worked in HR roles within the technology and financial services sectors before entering politics in 2012. She said: “I am delighted to join Equate as its new director — albeit remotely for the moment.

“The way organisations and people have had to adapt to change in recent weeks and months has demonstrated how barriers can be broken down.

“The glass ceiling of flexible work patterns and working from home has been well and truly smashed.

“Given what we have all been through, the old arguments of 'it’s too hard, it’s too complex, it’s too inconvenient, it will cost too much' won’t stack up. 

“It’s not about going back, but about how we work together to go forward from here.

“Through Covid-19, Equate has been adapting too; refocusing on how best we can fulfil our purpose of increasing women’s participation in STEM, building and campaigning for equality in the workplace and society.”

Laird said the organisation is also conscious of the intersectional discrimination faced by women from ethnic minority groups, who “often face the greatest barriers to participating and succeeding in STEM workplaces”, stating: “While it has been encouraging to see the number of employers add their voice to the Black Lives Matter campaign, it will be interesting to see what tangible actions they now take. 

“Equate can undoubtedly support them as they consider what systemic changes they need to make to challenge the conscious and unconscious biases that create barriers and prevent black, Asian and minority ethnic women from entering and succeeding in the STEM sector.”

Exiting the organisation, Yaqoob said:  "The organisation has made a tangible positive difference for women across the STEM sectors by providing development opportunities for women, delivering placements to support skills growth and, crucially, challenging and changing inequality in workplace cultures.

“I am proud to be leaving Equate Scotland in a strong position to continue this work and wish the organisation all the best going forward."