Resource Signposts

Follow the links below to find resources dedicated to professionals in your field

• Accountancy
• Architecture
• City
• Engineering
• Law
• Medicine
• Public Sector
• Science
• Technology

• Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology
• Women in Marketing
• Women in Management
• Women in Property
• Women in Banking & Finance

These are just a selection. Do look for networks in your area if yours is not represented here.

• Five Hour Club – Flexible, professional roles working 25 hours a week or less
• Flexible Working  People – Flexible roles posted every day across all levels and disciplines
• Mumsnet jobs – Family-friendly jobs from Mumsnet, some professional level
• MothersMeanBusiness – Part-time jobs (North England focus), some professional level
• The Daisy Chain – Flexible working platform matching candidates and organisations
• WORK180 – Jobs platform including policies such as paid parental leave, flexible working and professional development benefits before you apply
• DuoMe – Job Share board to find a job share partner and part time, flexible working roles
• boldnewworld.co.uk  Offering a range of full and part time jobs and charitable opportunities for Returners, Rethinkers, Rebalancers and Retirers
• Four Day Week Offering jobs that are all flexible in some way. Remote, with reduced hours, flexi-time or, of course, four day weeks

Recruitment agencies specialising in flexibility &/or returner-focused/’family-friendly’

• The Return Hub – City opportunities for financial services sector returners
• 9-2-3 – Oxfordshire-based agency specialising in jobs that fit around the school run
• Hurston Eliot – for ex-blue chip professionals; part-time or project work
• F1 recruitment – for marketing and communications professionals; co-run Back2Businessship
• Reignite Academy – for returning lawyers

Recruitment agencies specialising in professional-level interim roles

• Russam GMS – for interim roles

Job board for board-level roles

• Women on Boards – for non-exec and executive roles
• Nurole – recruitment platform for board and senior executive roles

• The Times top 50 Employers for Women
• Working Mums top employers

• Enterprise nation – small business support including start your business in a day courses
• The NextWomen – magazine and advice for entrepreneurial women
• Business Women Scotland –  a membership platform providing business advice to women
• The start up donut – resources for start ups
• Google Campus  – support for tech start-ups
• Women unlimited – workshops on starting your own business and social media
• Startup Direct – start-up funding, free mentoring and support
• Everywoman – resource for female entrepreneurs and business owners
• Mums Club – business club for mothers with business and franchise opportunities
• Women in business network – business referral network for women
• Business & IP Centre, British Library – information and resources to help you start, run and grow your business
• Zen Business – US site with resources for women in business
• AABRS – small business grants available for women in UK & US
• Business and Development Plans for Disabled Entrepreneurs – information, resources and tools

Success Stories

• Retraining from HR Director to entrepreneur: Barbara’s story (6 year career break)
• Retraining from surveying to after-school club founder: Alison’s story (7 year career break)

•  Designated PA – experienced Personal Assistants looking to return to work flexibly, after a break and wanting to work from home.
• That Works For Me – connecting skilled professional freelancers with work opportunities in brilliant UK businesses.
• Freeer – tools and white-labelled solutions to help freelancers.

• Reach Volunteering Opportunities with charities looking for professional skills
• Career Ready: Volunteer to help young people
• Do-it Large searchable database of volunteer opportunities
• Women on Boards Network providing application advice and access to all types of board and trustee roles
• Nurole Invitation only board level online recruitment
• Getting on Board Board-level volunteering opportunities

Voluntary Internships

• Some charities offer voluntary internships, typically 3 months, which are suitable for returners as well as younger people: eg Cancer Research, Red Cross, Barnardos

Several organisations offer advice and support for individuals looking  to return to work after ill health. Resources include advice on your legal rights, employer responsibilities and considerations (e.g. making reasonable adjustments) as well as general advice and support when seeking employment.

1. UK Advice – the official UK government website offers guidance on fit notes, reasonable adjustments, and taking time off for illness
2. ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Advice – provides free and impartial advice on workplace rights and responsibilities, including information on returning to work after sickness
3. Mind Return to Work Advice – shares resources on managing mental health at work, including tips for going back to work after a period of poor mental health
4. Affinity Health at Work – conducts pioneering research in the field of work, health and wellbeing to develop evidence-based guidance and resources
5. Job centre – your local Jobcentre Plus office offers advice on returning to work after sickness or disability

Support resources for those returning to work after/with cancer

1. Macmillan – this leading cancer charity has an extensive section on work and cancer, including advice on returning to work after treatment
2. Cancer Research UK – their website has a “Work and Cancer” hub with tips on job searching, disclosing your cancer and more
3. Breast Cancer Now – employment advice for those affected by breast cancer, including information on returning to work and understanding your rights

Support resources for those seeking employment after/with other long term health conditions

1. Mind – this mental health charity shares advice on managing your mental health when looking for work after a long-term condition
2. Access to work – a government scheme that provides practical and financial support to help you start or stay in work if you have a long-term health condition
3. Remploy – a provider of specialist employment services that helps people with health conditions or impairments find and keep a job

• Mum and Career (UK): Website for professional working women, includes articles on return to work
• Working Families (UK): Campaigns for family friendly policies and offers advice
• Smart Works (UK): Interview clothing and coaching for unemployed women. Centres across the UK, and a virtual service
• Carers UK (UK): Providing support, information and campaigns for carers
• iRelaunch (US): Focus on professional women; wealth of resources including a bank of success stories and specific advice
• Employment Solicitor.com (UK): articles on legal issues of women returning to work
• Beyond the School Run (UK): a website to help parents utilise their skills & talents in the hours available to them
• Passport-photo.online: Make a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile
• Careershifters (UK): Helps bright, motivated people who want (or need) a career change, find and move into fulfilling work through workshops, courses, free resources and a 180,000+ strong community

• What Color is your Parachute? – Richard Nelson Bolles: To explore your skills and interests, together with job search advice
• Build your Own Rainbow – Barrie Hopson & Mike Scally
• Working Identity – Herminia Ibarra: Career change case studies
• Back on the Career Track – Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivien Steir Rabin: Manual for relaunchers
• Wander Woman – Marcia Reynolds: for high achieving women who are restless and keep apparently changing direction
• The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People – Carol Eikleberry
• What Happy Working Mothers Know – Cathy Greenberg & Barrnett Avigdor
• Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway – Susan Jeffers
• Mind Flip: Take the fear out of your career – Zena Everett
• The Squiggly Career – Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis  

• Lynda.com: paid online courses to learn technology, creative and business skills
• alison.com: free online courses including tech updating
• FutureLearn: free online courses from top universities and cultural institutions
• coursera: free courses from 115+ top universities including Yale & Stanford
• edX: free courses from the world’s best universities
• Open Learning: free learning from The Open University
• Udacity: free tech skills from Silicon Valley companies
• Open Culture: list of free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) from top universities.
• The Digital Garage: free Google training in digital skills & social media
• The Learning People: paid online courses in tech and project management