Berkshire's AWE partners with STEM Returners

By Sam Pither

2 November 2022

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AWE has announced it is partnering with STEM Returners aimed at helping STEM professionals get back into work after a break in their career.

The partnership sees the nuclear defence company offering up to 12 new roles in manufacturing and systems engineering, along with IT roles. Based in Berkshire, the vacancies are open to STEM professionals looking to return to work following a career break.

Megan Hunt, Executive Director for HR, at AWE said: “At AWE we are committed to building an inclusive culture that positively embraces diversity and inclusion, recognising that everyone can make a difference.

“We are delighted to partner with STEM Returners on this vital scheme helping us to attract and welcome talented individuals back into the workforce.

“We are confident that this initiative and supportive route back into employment will positively contribute towards AWE’s strategic mission; delivering solutions for a safe and secure future.”

Along with helping to find the candidates, Hampshire-based STEM Returners will offer support in the form of mentoring and careers coaching services.

Natalie Desty, Director of STEM Returners said: “We are delighted to be launching this new returner scheme with AWE to support highly skilled people back into the industry they love.

“There is a known shortage of skills across STEM industries, and we know that people who have had a career break are faced with an uphill task of getting back into the profession.

“Only by partnering with industry leaders, like AWE, will we make vital changes in STEM recruitment practices, helping those who find it challenging to return to the sector and improve diversity and inclusion.”

Natalie established STEM Returners in 2017, after recognising the difficulty facing STEM professionals trying to get back into work. STEM Returners works with companies to facilitate returnships, which allow candidates to be re-integrated into an inclusive environment upon their return to the industry.

In The STEM Returners INDEX, an annual survey carried out by the organisation, 66 per cent of professionals on a career break said they are finding the process of attempting to return to work either difficult or very difficult – nearly half (46 per cent) reported feeling bias because of a lack of recent experience.

By giving these candidates real work experience and mentoring, STEM Returners helps to break down these barriers, with the added benefit of increasing diversity in a host organisation. While 14 per cent of those working in the industry are female and 9 per cent are from ethnic minority groups, STEM Returners’ population are 46% female and 44% from ethnic minority groups.

Featured image credit: STEM Returners

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.