STEM Returners partners with BAE Systems
International and multi-disciplinary aerospace organisation, BAE Systems, has achieved huge success in its pilot STEM Returners programme within its Maritime business, starting last September. STEM Returners (a joint initiative of the IMarEST and the Women's Engineering Society) looks to respond to a growing engineering skills shortage by attracting engineers back into the industry after a career break.
With 100% of participants from BAE’s trial entering the business in various roles, the initiative is looking to be a silver bullet in securing the future of the Maritime engineering workforce. However, the partnership does not end here and STEM returners will be partnering with BAE Systems again, in the Air Sector business, to offer many more return opportunities across Dorset, Somerset, Lancashire and Fife.
BAE Systems recognise that returners often face an insurmountable barrier to returning to work after a career break, be that because of a perception by hirers of a deterioration of skills, or a lack of flexibility. This ground-breaking programme shows career break returners that BAE Systems values the skills that they have gained whilst out of industry by enabling a return to their career in a flexible and inclusive way.
The programme is open to men and women in Dorset, Somerset, Lancashire, Fife 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. The programme looks for returners with experience in one of the following areas:
• Systems Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Design Engineering
• Capability & Service Engineering
• Structures
• Electromagnetics
• Aerodynamics
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 BAE Systems Air to those who have shown the necessary skills and aptitude to join the engineering specialists. This isn’t just work experience, but a genuine opportunity to restart careers within an exciting global organisation.
Candidates wishing to apply for the second programme have until 31st May 2019 and can do so through: https://www.stemreturners.com/company/bae-air/
Debbie Kempton, Principal Engineer and Head of Long Term Talent for Air Sector Engineering said “We’re very excited to extend the STEM Returners programme into the Air Sector. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring in qualified people who not only have technical skills, but also have other life experiences. Diversity of thought and approach enables our engineers to create the cutting edge solutions our customers require and we’re excited to bring STEM Returners on board to help us facilitate this.”
Natalie Desty, Founder of STEM Returners said “We are so excited to be running this programme in partnership with BAE Systems Air. BAE Systems have shown that they really value the skills and experience that returners have to offer which was demonstrated in them offering permanent roles to their returners”.
