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Presents a Europe‐wide analysis of employment patterns which reveals three major characteristics of women′s employment: occupational segregation, part‐time working, and pay differentials. Examines how these manifest themselves as a European‐wide phenomenon, and in more detail looks at how they manifest themselves in France, the UK and The Netherlands. Presents data to explore the interrelationship of these three characteristics and their manifestation against national backgrounds of social and employment legislation and child‐care provision. Concludes that simple correlations do not explain women′s position in the workforce and that neither structural nor cultural theories are in themselves enough to understand these complex relationships.

Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce – not even, in many cases, describing workers as assets! Describes many studies to back up this claim in theis work based on the 2002 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, in Cardiff, Wales.

Gordon Boyce, is a senior lecturer in the Macquarie University Department of Accounting and Finance, where he is a member of the Social and Critical Research in Accounting and Accountability Group. His interdisciplinary research encompasses social, critical and interpretive perspectives on accounting. Previous publications include research on environmental and social accounting; public administration, ethics and accountability; interactions between globalisation and accounting; and accounting education. Gordon presently teaches subjects in accounting information systems, accounting and society, social and critical perspectives on accounting and contemporary developments in accounting research.

This paper aims to explore perceptions and provides insights, from students who volunteer in policing whilst also studying the college of policing licenced professional policing degree (PPD) in Wales. It examines issues that act as enablers and blockers to volunteering in this public service, which also provides opportunities to develop their employability towards the careers to which they aspire. The paper provides insights from students and makes recommendations of interest to multiple stakeholders locally, regionally, nationally and internationally regarding attracting and recruiting volunteers.

Focus groups were conducted with students at three separate universities in the South and West of Wales. These undergraduate students were volunteers in different police forces and agreed to take part in connection with their experiences. The results were analysed using NVivo to establish commonalities.

The paper provides empirical insights concerning the issues surrounding the way those undergoing the process for recruitment as volunteers within policing are either hindered (blocked) or assisted (enabled). It identifies specific problematic areas as well as areas which have been of assistance. Policy makers, educators and recruiters should be aware of such blockers and enablers when considering adopting volunteering as an opportunity to enhance student employability. It also has resonance for other forms of volunteering in alternate public services.

This research is limited to those volunteers who are undertaking the licenced PPD at three separate universities in Wales. Although the research adds to the broader evidence-base with regards to volunteering and its use to enhance employability.

The paper includes practical implications for multiple stakeholders including university programme educators, administrators and decision makers in policing with regards to volunteering, employability, programme structures and process management.

The research is based upon the experiences and perceptions of those individuals who are actually engaged in volunteering.

THE whole agenda of the recent Conference had as its focus the motion for a reconstruction of the authority side of library service which formed the central and most exciting item of the Annual General Meeting. It is admitted that a new Libraries Act is needed and that such an act will be concerned with public libraries; but it should, we think, have some reference to the whole pattern of libraries, publicly owned, and not only to those of municipalities and counties. A conference in which all were represented could therefore appropriately deal with every branch of our work and did so, excepting only the commercial subscription lending library although distinguished representatives of these listened to the discussions.