Anara joined Frazer-Nash Consultancy via the STEM Returners Programme after a 7-year break from the nuclear industry.   On completion of the programme, Anara was made permanent as a Senior Engineer. Tell us a little bit about you. I was born in Kazakhstan and graduated from a state university as a nuclear engineer. I specialised in thermal hydraulic and radiation transport analysis. Later, I pursued a Master’s degree by research in nuclear detectors at Lancaster University in the UK. I then secured a position as a nuclear engineer, contributing to the ITER safety case. Later, I tran ..read more

Return-to-work specialists STEM Returners has launched its annual survey to understand STEM professionals’ experiences of trying to re-enter the workplace after a career break. The 2024 STEM Returners Index is open to all STEM professions who have had a gap in their career of any length, or who are attempting to return to work, or who have recently returned to work. The survey is anonymous and asks a range of questions including reasons for a career break and what challenges were faced when attempting to return to work. The results will enable STEM Returners to further understand the barriers ..read more

After a 17-year career break, Tracy returned to industry through the STEM Returners Programme with SSE as an Asset Policy and Strategy Engineer.  Read Tracy’s story below: Tell us a little bit about you. I started my career in Quality Assurance working in Kent but I was born in Scotland. The Company decided to send me to college to do an HNC in Industrial Chemistry on a day release basis which I thoroughly enjoyed. However I wanted to return to Scotland and decided I would do a BSc in Quality Management specialising in Operations Management to build on my Quality background. I always lov ..read more

Leading energy and sustainable solutions provider E.ON has teamed up with return-to-work specialists STEM Returners to help engineers make a successful transition back to work after they’ve taken a career break. E.ON, one of the UK’s top 10 most inclusive employers, will host a STEM Returners programme within its engineering division where there will be at least 10  opportunities for people wishing to join the company for a 12-week placement. Each placement will include hybrid working, between the candidate’s home and either of E.ON’s sites in Coventry or Nottingham. Available roles will ..read more

PD&MS Group is to launch a new returners programme to help STEM professionals in Scotland who have had a career break return to the industry. In partnership with STEM Returners, PD&MS will host the programme at their sites in Aberdeen and Glasgow where roles will include Control & Instrument Designer, Piping Designer, Process Engineer and Structural Designer. PD&MS is a leading multi-disciplined engineering company offering specialist services to the oil and gas, drilling, production, renewables and marine industries. It is hoped the programme will enable STEM professionals to ..read more

Like many other career-break returners, Muzeyyen faced challenges when attempting to return to STEM. Muzeyyen joined the Binnies STEM Returners Programme and after 12-week supported placement, was offered a permanent role at Binnies as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU   I studied Geological Engineering and subsequently earned a master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering in my hometown, Türkiye. WHAT IS YOUR WORKING BACKGROUND? IF YOU LIKE TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER BREAK After graduating, I worked as a Research Assistant at a government university. Foll ..read more

By Natalie Desty – Founder, STEM Returners As we celebrate International Women’s Day and aim to #InspireInclusion, I reflect on the progress made towards gender equality in STEM fields, and the stark reminder that we still have a long way to go. Discrimination, inequity, and unwelcome prejudices remain a harsh reality for many women in STEM. Our 2023 STEM Returners Index revealed the career break penalty is still disproportionately affecting women. “Women are most likely to take a career break to fulfil childcare responsibilities, with 47% of female survey respondents citing this as their pri ..read more

Global technology company Thales in the UK has teamed up with STEM Returners for a second time to continue their drive to help engineers return to work after a career break. Thales in the UK, which develops high-tech solutions, services and products for the security, defence and security, aerospace, space, and transport sectors, will provide a STEM Returners programme at their sites in Cheadle, Crawley and Templecombe for up to 10 professionals. Roles will include Systems Engineer, Software Engineer and Hardware Engineer. The new programme follows a successful pilot in 2022, during which Hayle ..read more

Global Underwater Hub and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) have come together with STEM Returners to launch a new partnership to drive equality and diversity across the underwater industry. A sector-wide STEM Returners programme will be delivered across multiple organisations within Global Underwater Hub’s membership network and will be open to professionals who are on a career break or are transferring their skills. The aim of the 12-week programme is to provide candidates with real work experience and mentoring during their placement, as well as supporting them t ..read more

Mena was forced to pause his career and come to the UK to seek asylum in 2016.  Mena had been working in the UK on a part time basis for 7 years and was struggling to secure a full time permanent role, despite 15 years construction experience. Mena joined the STEM Returners programme with Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra JV in May 2023. Following the successful completion of the 12-week programme, Mena was offered a permanent position as an Undertakings and Assurances Engineer (U&A) within the Consents Team. Read Mena’s experience of the STEM Returners Programme: How did you find out abou ..read more