As the Government announces four new returnship programmes for the public sector and launches a consultation on how to support people to return to work, Minister for Women Anne Milton explains why it’s crucial to build schemes like this to tackle the gender pay gap.
Government returnships announced
The Government has today announced the launch of its returnships programme, which was hinted at in last year’s budget.
It begins with four new formal returnship schemes across the public sector:
- Civil servants: Civil Service HR will launch an initial returner programme for 50 returners across the UK this October. Returners will be offered paid placements between six weeks to six months, with bespoke learning and development opportunities.
- Social workers: The Local Government Association (LGA) will partner with three regions across England to offer placements to 100 social work returners.
- Allied health professionals: The Department for Health will build on the existing nurses scheme and run a returner programme with Health Education England for 300 allied health professional returners across England, including physiotherapists, podiatrists, dietitians, and radiographers.
- Teachers: The Government Equalities Office will also work with the Department for Education to explore a returner programme for teachers.
The aim of the schemes is to develop best practice on what works to support career returners back to work most effectively.
The GEO has also launched a public call for evidence to allow individuals and employers to contribute to its understanding of how best to support people returning to work, particularly within the private sector.
The consultation will run for eight weeks, concluding on 29 October.
The gender pay gap has dominated headlines in recent months, sparking a much-needed debate about the role of women in the workplace and the glass ceiling which continues to hold women back. As many more employers report their gender pay gap, this conversation is set to continue.
We’ve seen significant progress on the gender pay gap in recent decades. It’s now down to a record low of 18.1% and because of the new regulations it will be clear where the problems exist.
While employers try to better understand the barriers in their own workplaces, we already know that nationwide the gender pay gap is biggest after the age of 40. In fact, the gender pay gap jumps from 7% for women in their twenties to 25% for women in their forties.
This tells us what many suspect: that there are still problems for women who want to progress or return to their careers after they have a family.
We need to reduce the barrier holding back so many talented and ambitious women across the country. Ultimately, this isn’t just about gender equality, this is about women reaching their potential, having real choice about how they live, and building a smarter and stronger economy, using the skills and talents we have.
That’s why today’s funding announcement (right) for new career returner programmes matters. These formal schemes, offered by employers, will provide tailored training and support to hundreds of people who have taken a career break as they return to the workplace.
Programmes like this can help us to fix the problem that many women with caring responsibilities face. It gives women real options over their career path.
Women should be able to stay home to raise a family because they want to, not because they don’t have any other choice. If they want to return to work after raising a family, they should be able to. Taking time out of work to care should not mark the end of your career.
Supporting women back to work is also good for our businesses and the UK economy. This is a chance for us to harness the range of skills and experiences that returners can bring to the workplace. It’s astonishing to think how much talent must go to waste.
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The most responsible employers will use gender pay gap reporting as the first step in understanding what is holding back their staff and take action. I’m pleased the public sector will be leading by example and that we’re taking action to tackle this barrier.
Supporting returners is good for women; it’s good for the economy. If we can crack this, it will take us one step closer to breaking through the glass ceiling and closing the gender pay gap for good.
2 comments
Although what I read is encouraging it really doesn’t help me. I had jury service and trained others to do part of my role. Jury service was really stressful and on my first day back to work i was sacked! Apparently the role wasn’t working out for my line manager or me! He actually asked if i wanted to resign! I asked “why” and i was told its just not working out bur he would provide a personal reference if i provide his details! (should I have said thank you!) i had trained 3 others to perform part of the role and I was well aware that my downfall was being experienced, a good trainer plus i had provided written comprehensive notes for guidance in my absence. This business is silver rewarded investors in people the business that receives a high chunk of training funds returned by the citb and the business values not one woman at all. I am still looking for another role since December2015, I am 58, i have applied for more than 500 roles, i have had more than 20 interviews, i have not received benefits, i gave been caring for my elderly and profoundly deaf father. I feel discriminated against because of my age and my responsibility (whilst saving the NHS and local council money) i feel that my experience is invalid and i am really, really very unhappy. What the hell am I supposed to do when i do not have a university diploma, i am over 50, i am apparently uneducated, over the hill and should jump under a train!
Linda you have hit the nail on the head, it’s all about mothers these days, and you have suffered by providing excellent notes to cover your absence. Sadly I have no answer except to suggest you look at self employment combined with employed roles. There is another way if you think laterally, and I don’t see the ‘like for like’ roles out there any more.
More on ‘nothing is new under the sun’…. the Minister is supporting returnships to ‘harness the range of skills and experiences that returners can bring to the workplace. It’s astonishing to think how much talent must go to waste’. Back in the 80’s I worked with a computer giant multinational delivering what was finally known as the YTS programme – and designed, implemented and launched the first ‘women returners scheme’ for this very reason which was a massive success including gaining recognised keyboarding and IT qualifications while working in a business at the cutting edge of technology.
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