Why returners programmes are good for business
In a fast-changing and innovative sector like tech, where new technologies are transforming work practices every day, the prospect of returning to work can be daunting. Returners programmes shift workplace perceptions surrounding people's right to return to work and challenge the unconscious stigma around career breaks.
techUK members dedicated returner programmes
This page features dedicated tech returners programme from techUK's member companies. Formal schemes in the rapidly changing tech sector are designed to support individuals as they transition back into the workplace after a career break, providing the training needed to update technical skills and business awareness, and sometimes offering additional benefits.
Free resources for returners
techUK signposts to a range of free courses, mentorship opportunities, and re-skilling initiatives for those looking to re-enter the tech sector. These organisations are dedicated to providing free opportunities to returners after a career break.
Training providers
This section is for tech companies who are ready to embark on a returners journeys. These dedicated organisations will help you create a bespoke returners programme for your organisation, and get you on the right track to attract, retrain and progress the best talent.
Returner experiences
Since launching our returners site in March 2017, techUK has been encouraging our members support individuals returning to work after a prolonged period of absence by providing advice and sharing best practice. Read stories of how people have returned to work successfully.
Toolkit for returners: helping you back to work
Advice from the Government Equalities Office. Whether you’re just starting to think about getting back into work, or you’re part-way through the journey back and looking for some extra advice and support, this Toolkit can help. It’s been designed as a roadmap that takes you through every stage of the return-to-work process, with a wide range of information, ideas and actions.
Women’s Business Council: a toolkit for employers
The toolkit is based on best practice guidance developed by Timewise and Women Returners for the Government Equalities Office and is designed for businesses wishing to develop returner programmes of their own. This toolkit sets out the characteristics of a successful programme, clear guidelines on how to attract and recruit candidates, how to support returners, and case studies.
Looking at returner programmes with Corndel
Management and technology training provider Corndel shares information about returner programmes. In Corndel’s experience, best-practice returner programmes, which benefit both businesses and returners. adopt a delivery model that is structured, scaffolded, tailored and coaching-led to support returners back into work.
Listen: The Podcast to #InspireYourReturn
Each week, Karen and Anna from the Women Returners Coaching Team chat to a wide range of professional women who are happily back at work after taking long career breaks for childcare, eldercare, relocation or other reasons. From a doctor, to a lawyer, to a project manager, to a nuclear physicist, these fantastic women share the ups-and-downs of their return-to-work journeys.
The value of returners programmes cannot be understated. They offer access to a largely untapped pool of talent that conventional recruitment methods often miss. We all benefit when we offer alternative routes and pathways for people who are looking to get back into the workforce, and break down the barriers to returning to fulfilling tech careers. It's great to see so many techUK members leading this.
Nimmi Patel
Nimmi Patel is the Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity at techUK.
