What Is a Returner Programme? Return to Work Support for UK Mums
Updated for 2026 by Abbie Coleman, Founder of MMB Magazine
“Global survey finds that 51% of women are less optimistic about their career prospects than before the pandemic.” Deloitte United States
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Return To Work Programme
MMB Magazine is passionate about supporting maternity and women returners to take the following steps back into the positions they once held and beyond.
“More than 90% of maternity returners say they get no support at work when they return, reveals a survey by Leeds-based MMB Magazine.”
Read our Return to Work After Maternity Leave – UK Returner Plan & Checklist (2026)
What Is A Returner?
Returner (noun):
A person re-entering the workforce after an extended period away, often due to caring responsibilities, health issues, or other personal reasons.
In your space — speaking to working mums — returners are often:
- Women who’ve taken time out to raise children
- Parents returning after shared parental leave
- Individuals coming back after a career break for family, health, or relocation reasons
It’s a common term used in HR, diversity, and inclusion strategies. Recruitment campaigns (like “returner programmes”) are specifically designed to support these individuals back into work with training, confidence-building, and flexible opportunities.
We are often asked, “But what is a returner programme?” Not all returner programmes are created equal; some still have many frustrations.
“Returner Programmes are programmes targeted at people returning to work after a long break (typically 2 years or more).” GOV.UK
This article answers your questions about returner programmes and much more. It helps you determine if it is the right pathway back with a fresh perspective into work for you as part of our Leave Return Louder campaign.
Looking for more information and support? Then check out The Ultimate Return To Work Plan For Maternity Returners.
Returning to Work After a Career Break? Here’s What You Need to Know
Taking time out of your career to raise children, care for a loved one, or focus on your health is valid, but returning to the workforce can feel overwhelming. That’s where returner programmes (also called “returnships”) come in. This guide breaks down what returner programmes are, how they work in the UK, and whether they’re right for you in 2025.
What Is a Returner Programme?
A returner programme, also known as a returnship or return-to-work program, is a structured initiative designed to help individuals who have taken a career break (often due to reasons such as raising children, caregiving, illness, or other reasons) to re-enter the workforce.
Employers offer these programs because they value bringing experienced professionals back into the workforce who may have temporarily stepped away from their careers.
Returner programmes often combine training, mentorship, and practical work experience to help returners reacclimate to their roles and industry trends.
In 2018, the UK Government launched the Returners Grant Fund, pledging over £1.5 million to support people—predominantly women—returning to work after extended career breaks, often due to caring responsibilities. The fund aimed to tackle the career break penalty by supporting employer-led returner programmes across various sectors. While the initiative was welcomed as a positive step, the delivery received mixed reviews. Some returners and programme leads expressed scepticism around the short funding windows and the limited delivery scale, questioning how well the schemes were truly embedded into long-term hiring strategies. However, the independent evaluation did highlight real benefits for participants, including increased confidence, upskilling, and improved employment prospects when the support was tailored and accessible.
👉 Read the full 2018 evaluation report
Key features of a returner programme:
- Training / Skill Development: You will generally be provided with training sessions or in-house workshops to update your skills to the current day.
- Mentorship and Support: Returners are usually paired with mentors or coaches who provide guidance and support as they reintegrate into the workplace.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Many returner programs have flexible work arrangements, such as part-time or remote work options, but not all do so.
- Real Work Assignments: Participants are given meaningful work assignments that allow them to contribute to the organisation and gain practical experience.
- Networking Opportunities: Good returner programs include networking events to connect with colleagues, peers, and your industry. Please take full advantage of these; they can feel daunting, but you may find your best allies in this room.
- Potential for Permanent Employment: While permanent employment is not guaranteed when you take on a returner role, successful participation in a returner program can often lead to permanent employment. However, the irony is not lost on us, as many of these roles are then full-time office-based.
Returner programs benefit both employers and employees. Employers gain access to a pool of experienced professionals, potentially with unique perspectives and skills. At the same time, returners are allowed to re-establish their careers.
These programs have gained popularity as a means to combat skills shortages and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They can be found in various industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, etc.
Returnship
A returnship, short for “returning internship,” is a specific type of returner program designed to help professionals who have taken an extended career break (often for reasons like caregiving, illness, or other personal circumstances) to re-enter the workforce.
Here are some key features of a returnship:
- Structured Program: Like an internship, a returnship is a structured program with a given duration. Designed to help individuals transition back into the workforce.
- Training and Skill-building: Returnships often include training sessions and skill-building activities to help update knowledge and learn about new industry developments.
- Real Work Experience: Returners are usually given work assignments that align with their skills and experience, allowing them to contribute to the organisation and rebuild their professional confidence and up-to-date industry knowledge.
- Mentorship and Support: Good returnship programs provide you with mentors or coaches who offer guidance and support and help you navigate the challenges of re-entering the workforce.
- Networking Opportunities: Returnships often include networking events so you can connect with colleagues, peers, and industry professionals. This can be invaluable for building relationships and finding future opportunities.
- Potential for Permanent Employment: While not guaranteed, successful completion of a returnship program can lead to a role.
Employers may see it as a way to evaluate potential hires. However, the time invested is not wasted if you don’t secure a role, as you now have all you need to enter the workforce. This shows you have undertaken the necessary time to get up to date and will be an attractive candidate to competitors.
Returnships are particularly valuable for individuals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period and are looking to re-establish their careers.
“Barriers and challenges to returning to work include confidence, family responsibilities, and finding a job.” Wise Campaign
These programs have gained popularity in various industries, mainly spurred on due to a lack of current talent available on the market.
Many companies offer them, but finance, technology, and healthcare lead the way. They can be a lucrative source of untapped talent for employers seeking experienced talent and individuals looking to re-enter the workforce after a break.
We hope this article has helped answer the question “What Is A Returner Programme” once and for all. If you have any questions, please get in touch.urn to work here or check out the latest returner programmes directory in our directory.
We hope this helped answer what is a returner programme and much more for you, if you have any questions please get in touch.
# But What Is A Returner Programme?