Anyone ever been on a secondment outside academia?

[underlinethat]

I am a SL working in the social sciences. I do a lot on impact, and nowhere near enough writing for journals. Lots of reasons for this, one of which is a total lack of confidence.

Anyway, I have been offered a secondment from an organisation with which I already do some work. I guess in theory it would enable me to drop the teaching and admin for a bit, and concentrate on impact and policy related research. I have been promised writing time too.

I am tempted by this in part because I have been through some sad times lately and am finding the multiple and diverse pressures of academia quite overwhelming. Also my DS is struggling at school (dyslexia) and I feel as though he needs more of me for a bit.

I quite like the idea of 6 months or a year doing more of a 9-5 I think, but I don't want to give up on my academic career altogether.

I have never seen anyone else do this though and don't know whether it would even be entertained by my institution. Has anyone here got any experience of academic secondments? Is this even 'a thing'?

Forgot to add thanks in advance!

I'm in STEM and have done a media placement but it was much shorter. It was great though - but it's a scheme that is massively in demand and I basically knew I was going to have to give up my academic work for the time and factored that in, while others thought they could do both and (annoyingly) one gave up half way because they couldn't - someone else would have really liked that placement.

It has really benefitted me in my academic work and I've kind of carved out a mini niche for myself relating to this (though of course we all know that means "doing more work that nobody gives you any credit for").

Thanks worst, that’s really helpful! Sounds like it’s not that widespread then maybe.

It could be a good idea. As you say, historically leaving academia, even for a short period, has been a big no-no, but things are changing.
I just spoke to an academic friend in law and they are now focusing far more on Impact, developing links with business, etc, in order to access funding from the Knowledge Exchange Framework (Kef), which was recently announced.
So as long as you only leave for a set period of time (i.e. don't burn your bridges), it could improve your employability within academia.

Thanks user. I may make some gentle enquiries, especially after my fist week back teaching this term, with the most dispiriting bunch of undergrads ever.