They will be open to women and men, with the aim of giving people who have taken lengthy career breaks the opportunity to refresh their skills and build professional networks. The Government will work with business groups and public sector organisations to identify how to boost the opportunities for women returning to work.
The Prime Minister said:
“When I stood on the steps of Downing Street and said I wanted this to be a country that works for everyone – I meant it.
“That's why – on International Women's Day – I'm pleased to announce £5 million to help mothers returning to work after a long career break.
“Women are driving our economy forward, securing 77% of new jobs last year – and now represent a higher percentage of FTSE Board membership than ever before.
“Returnships are open to both men and women but we should acknowledge that, more often than not, it is women who give up their careers to devote themselves to motherhood, only to find the route back into employment closed off – the doors shut to them.
“This isn't right, it isn't fair and it doesn't make economic sense. So I want to see this scheme extended to all levels of management and into industries where women are underrepresented.”
Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts said:
“Without a doubt there is a 'motherhood penalty' which results in mothers' careers taking a nosedive post-children. Enabling women who want to work or who want to work more outside of the home to do so brings real financial benefits to families and also to the economy. Whether £5 million will be enough to tackle the discrimination returning mothers face is moot. What's crucial is that workplaces embrace flexible working which is what many parents tell us they most need.”
Typical Mumsnet user quotes on the 'motherhood penalty' include:
“We are all mums who had careers… we were managers, department heads etc. Then we had babies and came back part time and weren't allowed to be managers anymore.”
“When I returned after maternity leave I was treated differently. I was passed over when plum training or project opportunities came up. It made me very fed up and actually stressed due to all the politics in my office.”
“Think it's awful actually that as soon as you have a child you are treated differently in some jobs, especially when people don't have many options available – flexi-hours, affordable childcare etc. There are enough barriers to returning to work without the extra flack you get for trying to find a balance between work and a family.”
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