MORGAN Sindall Infrastructure has launched a second programme to support people back to the infrastructure industry following career breaks.
The move follows the a successful pilot with STEM Returners, which helped four professionals return to work. The new paid programme is open to people with any length of break on their CV and will place returners in commercial, project delivery and functional support roles on energy projects across the UK, including Scottish Power Transmission (SPT), Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), and National Grid and the Great Grid Partnership (GGP).
STEM Returners will source the candidates and provide career coaching and mentoring throughout the placement. At the end of the programme, returners may be offered the opportunity to become permanent Morgan Sindall Infrastructure employees.
The latest research from STEM Returners (STEM Returners Index) shows it is harder than ever to return to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) roles after a career break. The main barriers include bias against a lack of recent experience, as well as gender, age and race. The research also reveals that the challenges of trying to return to work are damaging people’s self-confidence and forcing them to consider leaving STEM altogether.
Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, said, “The success of the pilot shows exactly what returners can bring when they’re given a fair chance. We know the construction and infrastructure industries need more people, yet a gap on someone’s CV still puts them at a real disadvantage when they try to re-enter the workforce.
“A career break shouldn’t mean a career end. We’re delighted that Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has committed to a second programme, which will open up more opportunities for talented people to return to work in a supported environment and help change the way the industry recruits.”
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure delivers projects across sectors including energy, defence, water, nuclear, highways and aviation.
Peter Kirk, MD – energy at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, added, “When we launched this partnership with STEM Returners, we saw a fantastic opportunity to bring talented STEM professionals back into a sector that urgently needs their skills. The success of this pilot has exceeded our expectations, with our new colleagues rebuilding their confidence, refreshing their expertise, and securing meaningful roles within the industry.
“With 75% of participants being women, and recruitment for our second cohort now underway, we’re proud to be widening access to careers in infrastructure while helping to address the UK’s growing skills challenge. Our new colleagues’ expertise and fresh perspectives are already making a positive impact, and we’re looking forward to seeing them continue to flourish as they build successful careers with Morgan Sindall Infrastructure.”
Since STEM Returners first launched in 2017, nearly 700 candidates have joined programmes across the UK. To view STEM Returners’ opportunities, visit https://stemreturners.com/live-programmes/.
