Renewable energy consultancy OWC has formed a new partnership with STEM Returners to help engineers overcome the so-called ‘career break curse’.
OWC will offer a STEM Returners programme at its office in London, taking on candidates in several roles, including project manager, geotechnical engineer and electrical engineer.
The candidates will help on OWC projects, gaining experience and supporting in the development and construction of European offshore wind farms.
STEM Returners, based in Hampshire, will source candidates for the programme, which aims to return or transfer experienced engineers back into industry following a career break.
The fully paid placements act as a ‘returnship’, allowing candidates to be re-integrated into an inclusive environment upon their return to STEM.
STEM Returners director Natalie Desty (pictured) 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 OWC, to return highly skilled people back into the industry they love.
“Only by partnering with industry leaders like OWC, 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.”
OWC managing director Katherine Phillips said: “Supporting STEM Returners correlates exactly with our values at OWC.
“Our commitments to fostering technical excellence among our teams for the renewables industry, and to promote a diverse, inclusive and equitable STEM industry, go hand-in-hand.
“A large proportion of candidates attempting to return to work are women, the majority of whom took a career break for childcare reasons.
“This reality is at the heart of why women continue to be a minority of the global engineering workforce, with even fewer in senior positions.
“It is really important to us at OWC to be a part of helping women back into work, and to find an environment where their unique technical skills can flourish.”
The STEM Returners’ 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 life back in work.