A RECRUITMENT scheme has returned 200 technical and maths professionals to the workplace.

STEM Returners says outdated recruitment methods have prevented many science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) professionals returning to work after a career beak.

It works with businesses to offer short-term placements that help people back into their professions.

The Lyndhurst-based business was founded in 2017 by Natalie Desty, who had seen how hard it was for STEM professionals to re-enter their professions.

She said: “These talented, educated and dedicated people – especially women and candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds – were being let down by outdated recruitment methods and bias that prevent them from getting an interview, let alone being offered the role.

“There is a perception that a career break automatically leads to a deterioration of skills. But the reality is that many people on a career break keep themselves up to date with their industry, are able to refresh their skills easily when back in work and have developed new transferable skills that would actually benefit their employers.”

She established a small pilot returners programme with BAE Systems, which saw a group of returners take part in a paid placement for 12 weeks.

Since then, internationally known employers such as Leonardo UK, Babcock International, SSE and Miggetts have all launched returners programmes and STEM returners has placed 200 professionals.

Ms Desty said: “The UK engineering industry needs to recruit 182,000 engineers annually to keep up with demand. But despite this very clear and desperate skills shortage, 61 per cent of STEM professionals on a career break are finding the process of attempting to return to work either difficult or very difficult and women and people from minority groups bear the brunt of this challenge.

“STEM organisations are clearly missing a major opportunity to get highly skilled, talented females back into the industry and need to do more to improve their practices and challenge recruitment bias in the system. If they do this, the industry will be a more inclusive place that will enable more people to thrive.”

Among STEM Recruiters’ successes is Cathy Cojeen, from Southampton, who did a placement with Leonardo UK as a project engineer.

The University of Southampton graduate wanted to return to engineering after having children but felt she would not match the specifications on job adverts.

She said: “Every engineering job I looked at wanted two to five years’ experience and IT skills that I was not proficient in. I discussed my prospects with a few contacts and reached out to people on LinkedIn, but I came to the conclusion that my CV would never be considered unless I had up-to-date skills, so I decided to return to university to study a masters in engineering. The future was very uncertain for me and several friends voiced their concern that I was leaving a secure job in teaching to pursue a previous career, especially during the pandemic.

“Whilst saving to become a student again, during my last year of teaching, I saw the STEM Returners scheme. I was fortunate to be placed with a very supportive and encouraging line manager and I threw myself in to it. I’ve been learning so much and I feel like I add value to the projects. I am now a project engineering lead, responsible for the overall engineering output on infra-red detector and space and astronomy projects.

“I am a firm believer that we are life-long learners, but that growth and change isn’t always easy. Career breaks should not set people back. We still have ability, knowledge and often transferable skills to make a valuable contribution to any company.”