Energy company EDF Renewables UK has formed a new partnership with STEM Returners to help engineers get back to work after a career break.
The collaboration will see EDF offer a STEM Returners programme at their sites in Durham or Edinburgh.
STEM Returners, a diversity and inclusion initiative based in Hampshire, UK, will source candidates for the programme in the roles of facilities manager, civil engineer and electrical engineer.
The fully paid placements act as a ‘returnship’, transferring experienced engineers back into the industry following a career break.
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Annual research from STEM Returners (The STEM Returners Index) has revealed the challenges people face when trying to return to work, following a career break. Recruitment bias is shown to be the main barrier to entry.
Natalie Desty, Director of STEM Returners said: “Working in this space for the last five years, we know just how difficult it is for people to overcome the career gap penalty and the impacts that this has on their career in STEM.
“We are very proud to be entering this new partnership with EDF Renewables UK, to return highly skilled people back into the industry they love. Only by partnering with industry leaders like EDF Renewables UK, will we make vital changes in STEM recruitment practices, to help those who are finding it challenging to return to the sector and improve diversity and inclusion.”
San Johal, Chief People Officer at EDF Renewables UK said: “Our business is successful because everyone’s welcome here. We recognise that people’s careers follow different paths, and a break can allow someone to learn new skills, gain new perspective and help reassess the path they were on.
“We look forward to welcoming the engineers onto their placements and look forward to seeing them thrive.”
Addressing the skills shortage
Despite a skills shortage in the UK engineering industry, professionals who have had a career break are often overlooked, according to STEM Returners.
This programme aims to eliminate barriers, by giving candidates real work experience and mentoring during their placement, as well as helping them to seamlessly adjust to working life.
The scheme also helps to increase diversity in a host organisation. STEM Returners’ population of experienced professionals attempting to return to work are 51% female and 38% from black and minority ethnic groups, compared to 10% female and 6% BME working in the STEM industry.
