Bringing mothers back after a career break is not just fair it also makes sense to our economy!

Last week the budget announced a £5 million fund for bringing mothers (and fathers) back to work after an extended career break (BBC News). 

In an interview with Mumsnet, Theresa May said ‘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.’(Click here to read the full interview)

Absolutely right. It isn’t fair and returnship funding is very welcome. However, haven’t we somewhat missed the point? We talk about fairness when this is all about our collective ignorance about the incredible expertise and experience that is currently hidden within our economy.  We talk about skills gaps and lack of technical expertise and completely discount parents who have had successful careers in the past and who, with only a little encouragement to build their self-confidence, some refresher training and access to flexible working could pick up where they left off. By not offering different ways of working that allows parents to combine both a job they love with looking after their children we collectively miss out!

We need to stop thinking that providing full-day childcare places and returner schemes to full time work is the only option and is good enough to harness the capabilities that exist in our communities. The reason I started Scirum Ltd was to offer parents and those who have retired a way of working flexibly, to go to assemblies and take an afternoon off to look after a sick child without having to feel the constant pressure from your employer.  By providing a mutually supportive environment for our staff, flexible hours and ultimately by focusing on our clients and delivering their needs it is possible to create a different and more positive working environment. This is not the only option but one of many which we need to explore and make work for us, for our families and for our customers.


In the end we have to realise that we will need different ways of working as we move towards the future and we have to recognise that bringing parents back to work after a career break is good for all of us and the economy and not just ‘unfair’.

Susanne Hasselmann
Director
Scirum Ltd 

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