Babcock begins fourth STEM Returners programme
Since Babcock joined the STEM Returners programme (an initiative set up by the IMarEST and Women’s Engineering Society) in 2017, it has successfully welcomed back several career-break engineers across its offices in Plymouth and Bristol. Committed to ensuring that they are an open and inclusive employer and attracting local people, their returners scheme has been hailed a huge success and a key part of their recruitment and attraction strategy moving forward. Since that first programme Babcock have since run another successful programme in Plymouth and Bristol and are now embarking on their fourth programme at Devonport Dockyard.
For more than a century, Babcock has been trusted to deliver bespoke, highly-skilled engineering support. Underpinned by a deep understanding of technology integration, infrastructure management, and specialist training, they help customers around the world to improve their capability, reliability and availability of their most critical assets within the key market sectors of Marine, Land, Aviation, and Nuclear.
Babcock are on the search for more talented engineers to join them for a 13-week returners programme with the opportunity to become permanent at the end of the placement. Babcock aren’t just offering fantastic training and valuable work experience but a genuine opportunity to restart or transfer your career with a leading global employer.
Babcock recognise that returners often face almost insurmountable barriers to returning to work after a career break, be that because of unconscious bias, a lack of flexibility or flaws in the recruitment process. Babcock are committed to breaking down these barriers by offering returner opportunities. Babcock’s success in retaining their returning engineers at the end of their programmes shows career break returners just how much they value the skills that they have to offer.
The programme is open to men and women in the Plymouth and surrounding areas who have taken any length career break, as well as those who wish to transfer sectors but lack the relevant work experience. Returners with an ex-Military background, particularly Royal Navy are also urged to apply. Babcock are looking for returners with prior experience in the following:
- Metallurgical testing- returners will have a background in metallurgy, mechanical or materials engineering. Previous lab experience or ex maintainers of ship electrical components is beneficial.
- Electrical Calibration- returners will have an electrical or Royal Navy apprenticeship background. Ex maintainers of ships electrical components or microwave or signally experience is beneficial.
- Nucleonic Calibration- returners will have an Electrical or Physics background. Experience in the Health Physics of maintenance and operations is beneficial.
Candidates signing up to the ‘STEM Returners’ programme will join a paid 12-week structured return to work programme which will include soft skills training, technical training and on the job experience, as well as coaching and mentoring support.
At the end of the 12 weeks, job offers will be made by Babcock to those who have shown the necessary skills and aptitude to join them. This isn’t just work experience but a genuine opportunity to restart careers within an exciting global organisation.
Candidates wishing to apply for the programme can do so through https://www.stemreturners.com/company/babcock/.
Lindsey Walsh, HR Director of Babcock said: “Traditional recruitment methods tend to screen out less traditional CVs, but I believe this is a missed opportunity, particularly at a time when our sector faces skills shortages. We want to broaden our talent pool to reach people who may not necessarily think of applying to Babcock.”
Natalie Desty, Founder of STEM Returners said “We are delighted to be running our fourth returners programme with Babcock. Babcock are fantastic employers completely committed to the programme which has been demonstrated in how they have supported, developed and retained their STEM Returners."
