ScottishPower today (Monday) welcomed a group of six individuals into STEM-based placements as part of a programme to support women returning to work after a lengthy career break.

The Women Returners programme aims to help women grow their career after a career break from the STEM sector, offering time and support needed to refresh and redevelop their skills to support them in returning to employment on a more permanent basis.

Working in partnership with Equate Scotland, ScottishPower aims to make a positive difference in the STEM industry by supporting women “getting in, getting on, getting back and getting to the top”.

Women’s careers are typically interrupted more than men’s by a range of planned and unplanned life events. This can include, but isn’t limited to, child rearing and caring responsibilities. This break from working can leave women unsure how to return, especially if they are seeking a more flexible work pattern than the traditional Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

A total of six women joined the company this week in roles across the business including renewables, innovation and power distribution. They are Nicola Anderson from Ardrossan, Alison Proud from Edinburgh, Carol Croft from Hamilton, Ujala Mustafa from Glasgow, Eva Garcia-Penuela Castro also from Glasgow and Gail Hughes from Montrose.

Melanie Hill, People Development Director with ScottishPower, said: “We recognise the value of diversity and are taking steps to ensure our workplace is supportive and open to everyone.

“After a career break, returning to work can feel a bit scary and people might need extra support. Some people worry about new technology, or that the role they did before has changed too much, or that their skills are too rusty. All of this can make it hard to feel confident enough to apply for jobs after a break, let alone make it through to interviews and beyond. That’s why we value the Women Returners Programme highly and I’m delighted to welcome our new starts to the business this week.”

More information, or for candidates to register an interest for ScottishPower’s 2019 intake, can be found on the Women Returner Programme page on this website.