Women Returners and STEM Returners have launched the second phase of a successful return-to-work support programme, which has already helped more than 40 parents and carers with tech and engineering experience to get back to their careers.
STEM ReCharge is providing career coaching, job skills training, mentoring and technical refresh sessions to parents and carers in the Midlands and North of England who want to return to the tech industry following a career break.
Insight and lessons learned from the first group of returners, who completed the programme in June and July, are being used to support the second phase of the programme, which will start in October.
“After a decade of supporting professionals to return to work, we’re well aware of the multiple challenges returners face, particularly in technical fields,” said Julianne Miles, CEO of Women Returners. “With our first STEM ReCharge cohort, we’re already seeing the power of a targeted support programme, rebuilding confidence, skills, knowledge and networks, to enable these talented returners to get back into great jobs. We’re really looking forward to welcoming the second cohort in October.”
Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, described the positive impact STEM ReCharge is already having is rewarding.
“As an industry, we need to do more to increase the opportunity for returners in STEM and lower the barriers they face when they try to resume their careers. We would like to encourage returners and employers to take advantage of this free programme and work together to help more parents and carers return to work.”
Confidence boost
Priyanka Bondre took part in the first cohort and her experience is reflective of many returners. In 2019, she left her job in India to join her husband in the UK and then took an extended career break to care for their young daughter. But despite a bachelor’s degree in computer science, an MBA in IT Management and more than 10 years’ experience in IT, Bondre still found it difficult to get back into the workplace.
With her daughter starting school in September, STEM ReCharge came at just the right time and was the boost she needed.
“It has been wonderful to be a part of the STEM Recharge programme,” said Bondre. “The programme gave me a confidence boost to resume my professional journey. I am enrolled in a data engineer bootcamp and thrilled to reskill and re-enter the workforce!”
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The positive impact of the programme has also been felt by Amritha Pai. A software engineer with eight years of experience working in banking and insurance, Pai initially ignored by recruiters when she tried to return to work after a three-year career break to look after her daughter.
She credits the programme for her success in securing a new role as an automation test engineer, commenting: “The career coaching was amazing, I learnt how to make myself visible through various platforms such as LinkedIn and how to showcase my skillset. The personal mentoring guided my smooth transition into the current role. The inputs are very constructive and futuristic.”
Tackling return to work challenges
With Microsoft estimating that, globally, there will be 149 million new jobs in software, data, AI, machine learning and cyber by 2025, and a recent report from Tech Talent Charter and Code first Girls stating that half of women in tech drop out by the age of 35, there is a pressing need to support qualified tech professionals back to work.
But parents and carers often face an uphill battle when trying to return to professional-level work after a long career break, facing a range of challenges from a lack of self-confidence to widespread recruiter bias against people without recent experience.
STEM ReCharge said it tackles these barriers with a comprehensive programme coaching, training and mentoring as well as connections with employers. The project is also training local employers to be more inclusive of returners in their recruitment practices.
The first STEM ReCharge cohort supported 42 participants with an impressive range of qualifications and experience including an MBA in IT Management, a first-class Computing Degree and more than 15 years in Project Management.
STEM Recharge is available to returners in the midlands and north of England after analysis carried out by Women Returners and STEM Returners showed these areas have far fewer returner programmes than southern areas.
Returners can apply for the October STEM ReCharge programme here.
