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Career Returners is an expert return-to-work support organisation, championing career breaks as a valued part of a lifetime career since 2014.

We partner with inclusive employers to help them access, reintegrate and retain experienced professionals returning after caring, health or other breaks - whether they're new hires re-entering the workforce or employees returning internally after a long absence.

Through our Career Returners Professional Community, we empower career break professionals to rebuild confidence, access expert support, upskill and connect with employers who value their experience.

With Government and professional bodies, we act as a voice and advocate for returners - and deliver funded return to work programmes.

Do you want to get support with your

Return to
Work?

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Employer?

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of return-to-work expertise across multiple sectors and countries

Offering support, resources and coaching to the

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members of our Career Returners Community of returning professionals

Partnering with

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leading employers to create, promote and support returner programmes, bringing 4,000+ returners back into professional roles

Advocating for returners with 

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voice within government, industry, professional associations and media

Nupur’s Story: Returning to Data with Convex Insurance

6 year career break

After relocating to London in 2007, I worked as a Microsoft Business Intelligence Professional, specialising in database design, dimensional modelling, and SQL Server capabilities. Subsequently, I decided to take a career break to dedicate time to my young family.

Shigraf’s Story: Returning to Audit & Assurance with Deloitte Ireland

11 year career break

I started my career as a Chartered Accountant, working with EY Pakistan and other reputable organizations for three and a half years before I married, had my first child, and realised that my priorities had changed. My focus became my baby and my family, and during this time, we also moved to the Middle East.

Olivia’s Story: Returning to Law with Howden

13 year career break

I trained and qualified as an insurance litigation solicitor at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro, Olswang LLP in London. I was mainly working in the Professional Indemnity and Financial Institution lines of business and gained a variety of experience working on Directors’ and Officers’ liability, Solicitors’ Professional Indemnity and Clinical Negligence cases.

Gema’s Story: Returning to Insurance with Markel

14 year career break

I began my career with Chubb, an American Insurance Company, where I spent 13 years as an insurance underwriter. I was based in Madrid for the majority of the time but did spend 4 years in London too and enjoyed working across different lines of business including Commercial Property, Casualty, Entertainment and Financial lines.

Attracting and retaining diverse talent is a key priority for us in BT Business. Career Returners have helped us access a truly diverse pool of talent that matched the critical skills that we need for our teams. We have been blown away with the calibre, engagement and potential of the 18 colleagues who make up our first 2024 cohort. The guidance and expertise that Career Returners provide has helped us put some real structure and rigour into how we support Returners when they join BT Business. They understand the Returner demographic so well. Returning to the workplace after an extended break is a huge step, so getting this right and ensuring the transition back to the workplace is as smooth and supported as can be is really important to us. We’re looking forward to working with Career Returners again this year and welcoming our second cohort in autumn 2024.

Head of Talent Acquisition, BT Business

We’re always on the lookout for new diverse talent pools so having a returners programme seemed a great addition to our current recruitment channels. Returners have amazing past work experiences with skills that are in short supply in the open recruitment market - this coupled with their enthusiasm and energy has made the investment in a Returners Programme very worthwhile. Career Returners provided us with all the support we needed in setting up our programme and we’ve received some great feedback about the coaches and support provided to the returners themselves. We’re looking forward to building on the success of this year’s scheme with our Returners Programme for 2024.

Head of HR, EDF Business Solutions

We began working with Career Returners to help us access a more diverse pool of skilled candidates and address recruitment gaps. At DC Thomson, we believe behaviours and potential are as important as skills and were impressed by the mindset and determination of the candidates we met. Career Returners' guidance helped us develop a structured plan, ensuring support from mentors, coaches and managers throughout the programme, leading to successful placements, with 100% conversion rate from placement to permanent role and ongoing development for our returners. Career Returners has supported our goal of becoming a more diverse workplace and we value our ongoing relationship.

Chief People Officer, DC Thomson

Career Returners has played a pivotal role in the expansion and enhancement of our RE-IGNITE initiative for the past six years. Their expert counsel has equipped us with the necessary strategies to seamlessly incorporate our RE-IGNITERS into the Moody's framework. This has been achieved through the provision of invaluable coaching and mentoring advice, as well as significantly uplifting our hiring managers' skills. Their contributions have been instrumental in fostering a conducive environment that promotes continual professional growth.

Global Diversity Sourcing Specialist and VP of Early Careers and Programs Talent Attraction,

REIGNITE, Moody's

Women Returners [now Career Returners] was an obvious partner for us to work with on our pilot returnship in 2022, based on their unmatched return-to-work experience and knowledge. Their expert advice and guidance at every step of the design, engagement and recruitment stages was invaluable and their Manager Training and Returner Coaching provided essential tailored support. The partnership ensured that the pilot was a huge success and the returner programme has become a key part of our Inclusion strategy. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship

Inclusion Lead and Return to Work Programme Manager,

Deloitte Ireland

We are delighted to have partnered with Career Returners to deliver an Assisted Return to Career (ARC) programme for the Irish Civil Service. Career returners bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to the Civil Service, promoting diversity, innovation and enriching our workforce.

Assistant Secretary, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

Our Employer Partners

Looking to access and support the pool of highly-qualified, diverse returner talent?

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