A NUCLEAR engineering business is offering help to get engineers back into the industry after a career break.

Aquila Nuclear Engineering will offer a pilot STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) returners programme at its site at Twyford, near Winchester.

The programme will start by offering a 12-week placement in the role of senior mechanical design engineer. It is open to engineers who have struggled to return to their careers through standard recruitment channels.

Aquila, a subsidiary of the Cyclife EDF group, is running the programme in partnership with Lyndhurst-based STEM Returners, which runs “returnships” allowing candidates to be re-integrated into the industry.

Successful candidates may be offered permanent positions at Aquila after the placement.

Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, said: “We are very proud to be entering this new partnership with Aquila, to return highly skilled people back into the industry they love. Only by partnering with industry leaders like Aquila 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.”

Grace McMullan, recruitment advisor at Aquila, said: “At Aquila Nuclear Engineering, we strive to break down barriers and build an inclusive and diverse workforce. We support those who have taken a career break and aim to get them back into their chosen profession. We have recently formed a new partnership with STEM Returners to help engineers get back into work, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Annual research from STEM Returners has shown the challenges engineers face when trying to return to work following a career break. Recruitment bias is shown to be the main barrier to entry.

STEM Returners recently launched the 2022 STEM Returners Index to better understand STEM professionals’ experience of trying to re-enter the sector.

The survey is open to all STEM professionals who have had a gap in their career, who are attempting to return to work, or who have recently returned.

STEM Returners says its scheme has the added benefit of increasing diversity in workplaces. Its population of STEM returners are 51 per cent female and 38 per cent from black and minority ethnic groups, compared to 10 per cent female and six per cent BME in the STEM industry overall.