DIAGNOSTICS manufacturer Randox has launched an initiative to help bring more talented women and men back into the workforce.
Randox Returners has been developed to support professionals who have had a career break for three years or more.
The six-month paid scheme gives people the chance to transition back into a working environment without the pressure of taking on a permanent role.
Returners will be given the opportunity to work on real-time projects, upgrade their skills and increase their confidence.
Successful candidates will embark on a six-month programme, where they will go through a comprehensive week-long induction and be assigned a personal mentor. As well as the chance of flexible working where possible, there is also the opportunity for the position to become permanent at the end of the scheme.
Head of HR at Randox, Linda Magee said: “With a returner scheme like this, everyone benefits. In order for us to continually develop and innovate, we need to build teams with ambitious, skilled and dedicated people; and we know there are talented people outside the workforce who want to come back. STEM industries in particular lose highly skilled women, and when you consider this is then combined with an under-representation of women to begin with, it’s clear that action is needed.
“Traditional recruitment methods can be a barrier, with misinformed perceptions about career breaks. We want to challenge this, because we know people can gain new, valuable skills during time away from traditional work. We hope that by offering this programme we’ll appeal to these motivated and experienced people.”
Maureen O’Reilly, NI Chamber of Commerce economist hopes the scheme will help lower Northern Ireland’s economic inactivity rate which is currently the highest in the UK with one in four people who could work, not in employment.
She added: “It is great to see such a positive and practical initiative from the private sector and particularly one focused on encouraging more highly skilled people back into the workforce. I can’t stress how critical this is for an economy like Northern Ireland’s.
Returners should not undervalue what they can offer an employer.
“Local businesses are currently facing a skills shortage when recruiting for all types of positions and these skills are exactly what many people who have taken time out of work possess.”