As part of the Spring 2023 Budget, the government announced a "returnerships programme"  designed to encourage upskilling and also the return to work of many over-50's who are said to have retired during the pandemic. 

With record low unemployment  (though it has to be said, exceptionally high numbers of people who are claiming benefits on the basis that they are unable to work) and many employers struggling to fill job vacancies, the guidance focuses on returner programmes involving paid work, on a temporary or permanent basis, that give a supported route back to permanent employment. These programmes can be for individuals or groups of returners, who are returning from time out of work for childcare or other caring responsibilities, or for health, relocation or other reasons.  It applies to organisations in all sectors and of all sizes.

 

Among other things, the guidance addresses:

 

• Why returners should be supported. It highlights the benefits associated with the implementation of a returners programme.
• Who returners may be. It notes that a returner can be a person of any gender returning from any type of career break.
• Designing and setting up a returner programme. This includes bringing returners directly into permanent roles, offering fixed-term contracts with competitive pay and the same additional support (such as training, coaching and access to peer support networks) that would apply to any permanent roles open to returners, providing fellowships and establishing "return to practice" placements for individuals returning to regulated professions.
• Adapting recruitment practices. This includes enhancing and promoting flexible working policies, avoiding unnecessary requirements that might discourage returners and advertising vacancies as being suitable for returners.
• Engaging and onboarding returners. This includes how to run effective recruitment campaigns and assess returner candidates fairly, and how to design an effective induction programme.

The guidance can be found here and for all of those WorkSmarter clients with vacancies to fill, happy reading!