Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what parameters his Department has set for the returners programme for STEM announced on 8 March 2022; and if he will publish his strategy to deliver it.

The STEM returners programme announced on International Women’s Day will encourage those who have taken breaks to care for others back into STEM - giving them the opportunity to refresh and grow their skills in sectors where their talents are most needed. This pilot will build on previous Government returner initiatives, and will seek to address the barriers that returners face when re-entering the workplace. It will help organisations to recruit and retain talented staff who are often overlooked because of a gap on their CV.

Procurement of a supplier to deliver the pilot is expected to launch shortly. Information on the available funding and the expected length of the programme will be released when the procurement is launched. A formal evaluation will be conducted alongside the pilot programme to build the evidence base for what works for returners and employers.