£5m to help mothers return to work

MOTHERS who have taken a career break to bring up children will be helped back to work as part of a £5million government project.

The help will go to public sector workers and there will be four schemes: for civil servants, social workers, teachers, and health staff such as physiotherapists, podiatrists, dietitians and radiographers.

The schemes, funded from £5million earmarked in this year’s Budget, will offer training and support to help ‘returners’ refresh their skills, as part of the Government’s drive to close the gender pay gap.

Many of those taking advantage of the scheme are likely to be women who have taken time out of the workplace to bring up their children. But the programme is open to both genders and could benefit those who have taken a career break for other caring responsibilities.

Skills minister Anne Milton said: ‘Millions of us need to take time out from our careers, but it can be really hard to return.

‘This is bad for the people affected, and the businesses who miss out on their talents. Women, in particular, find the routes back into employment closed off after taking time out to start a family.

‘These returner programmes will make it routine for women to go back to the workplace. It ultimately should also help us to tackle the gender pay gap.’