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What kind of courses would you recommend for Female Communications Engineers returning to flexible / part time work in the UK after a 5 year career break?

Hello Everyone. I'm looking for some inspiration please!

I am an IEng Communications Engineer who has been on a career break since 2015. I don't want to return to full time work whilst my children are in school (another 15years...) so I'm looking to do a qualification that will enable me to remain an 'engineer', working for myself, part-time from home, until I'm able to return to work full time. I'm considering doing a Masters Degree in Big Data with the Derby University which I think would give me skills and opportunity to go down that route.

I was wondering if any of you knew any other 'skill gaps' or could recommend any specific courses for people in my situation.

Thank you

Laura

0 Amber Thomas over 4 years ago

Cyber Security? I've no idea if this is still the case, but a couple of years ago Royal Holloway was offering scholarships for those looking to retrain into the cyber security profession, specifically "returners-to-work after parental leave, those who are currently unemployed, and mid-career transitioners" were eligible. This was for the 2016-17 academic year, so they may not be offering scholarships anymore, but I think they are still running the courses. https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/isg/prospectivestudents/prospectivestudents-msc/dcms.aspx / http://www.isg.rhul.ac.uk

You could also try looking on https://www.ten2two.org/, which offers professional part-time and flexible roles to fit in around the school day, in case there is something that you could do now without having to re-train.

Good luck!
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0 Amber Thomas over 4 years ago

You might also find http://www.schoolgateset.org.uk/ of interest while you decide your next steps. The School Gate SET is a community of parents who volunteer to add hands-on confidence with Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths in their children’s primary schools during the school day. You might meet others in the same boat as you who may be able to advise on other routes to employment/retraining during career breaks.
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0 Amber Thomas over 4 years ago
Hi Laura Trethowan‍, as well as the suggestions made below, it might be a good idea to join WES (Women's Engineering Society) if you aren't already a member. Their monthly e-Newsletter usually includes details of various "Returners" programmes. I've pasted the schemes listed in this month's email, but it is probably best to join yourself to keep updated with the latest options available.

Returners Programmes
Safety Engineer, Returners Programme, STEM Returners, Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

ILS Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth - deadline 30 September 2019

Power Electronics Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth - deadline 30 September 2019

Radio Frequency Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth - deadline 30 September 2019

Systems Engineer, Returner Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth- deadline 30 September 2019

Design Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth- deadline 30 September 2019

Safety Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth- deadline 30 September 2019

Electrical Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth- deadline 30 September 2019

Mechanical Engineer, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth- deadline 30 September 2019

Naval Architect, Returners Programme BAE Systems, Portsmouth - deadline 30 September 2019

Nucleonic Calibration Specialist, Returners Programme STEM Returners, Plymouth - deadline 3 September 2019

Data Management Engineer,STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Electrical Engineer, STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Mechanical Engineer, STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Naval Architect, STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Project Manager, STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Risk Manager, STEM Returners - Bristol - deadline 10 September 2019

Repower Engineering Return to Work Programme, Cummins, Darlington - deadline 23 September 2019

Repower Engineering Return to Work Programme, Cummins, Daventry - deadline 23 September 2019

Best,

Amber
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0 Laura Trethowan over 4 years ago

Thank you for all of your responses Amber. I registered with ten2two but as I live in Derby (and they are based in the south-east) they don't have anything going on here but said that they would keep me on file. The Returners Progammes are for people going back to work full time (which is not what I want to do) and again are all based in the South. I've registered to do the MSc in Big Data (online) and hope that it will give me an in demand skill set that will enable me to work flexibly when I graduate in 3 years time!

Thanks again for your help.

Laura
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0 Amber Thomas over 4 years ago

Good luck with the Big Data course. If you want to do some reading before the course starts, The IET has a Big Data Book Series that you might be interested in...

And remember, IET members get 10 knowledge credits every year as a benefit of membership. These credits can be redeemed via the IET's digital library. One credit equates to a single article or chapter download. As well as the Big Data series, the wider backlist of the IET’s publications is available and you can download from over 400 eBooks, over 1,300 conference publications, and over 70,000 journal articles through the use of credits.

Find out more at: https://www.theiet.org/publishing/subscribe-or-buy-our-content/knowledge-packs/ or browse our current catalogue here: https://shop.theiet.org/
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What kind of courses would you recommend for Female Communications Engineers returning to flexible / part time work in the UK after a 5 year career break?

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