A smooth transition back into the workforce with UKAEA

Created by VERCIDA for UKAEA

For Jenny-Leigh Douglas, returning to work after raising two children and moving countries, has been a positive, supportive experience at UKAEA.

I took a long hiatus after having my kids. Now, with my sons being 8 and 14, I felt it was time for a new adventure. Moving from South Africa to the UK in August 2022 added a twist, but I embraced the challenge. 

Adjusting to a new country, finding my favourite ingredients in unfamiliar supermarkets, and helping my kids settle into new schools kept me busy, but I was eager to dive back into the workforce.

With a background in Account Management and Customer Relations, I landed a fantastic position at UKAEA in Talent Acquisition. My transferable skills fit perfectly, and I was welcomed with open arms.

I found returning to the workforce a much easier experience than I anticipated.   I was genuinely concerned that I would struggle initially since I had been out of the corporate environment for so long.  So often as mums, we are our harshest critics and motherhood is such an all-consuming task that you wonder if you will ever be able to ease back into the workplace after a long career break. 

It was an interesting adjustment for myself and my family when I started on the first day. Even though I had thoroughly prepared them, there was still a look of trepidation on their faces when I had to explain again to everyone that I was leaving the house at 7:30am to go and start a new job. Admittedly I was pretty nervous too. Not only about how I would cope back in the workplace, but also about how my family would cope with the morning and afternoon routine without me there to manage it.  I was so used to being the parent that took care of the day-to-day routine that it was going to be difficult to hand the task over to my husband half the week.  Thankfully he has stepped right into the role and our mornings run like clockwork now.

UKAEA's amazing team and flexible environment made my transition a breeze. I feel so grateful to work for a company that trusts and supports us, without micromanagement. My husband and I both enjoy hybrid roles which allows us to balance our professional and parenting lives perfectly.

Even though our kids are growing up, it is nice to be able to be there for them, so when I am working from home, my husband is in the office and vice versa. I’ve seen other members of my team at UKAEA enjoy the same sort of flexibility that I do, such as needing to start or finish at different times. 

It’s a breath of fresh air to work for a company that treats everyone like adults, trusting us to get our work done without micromanaging us. I am able to manage my own time and I really believe we are all way more productive when we can work this way.

I would love it if every mum out there had the same experience that I’ve had after a long break. It was amazing how quickly everything came back to me, even if I thought being part of the workforce was my former life. It is great to be able to communicate with people on a professional level again. 

As a Talent Acquisition Coordinator, I ensure a wholesome experience for all involved, using my Customer Relations expertise. Even if candidates don't land the job, we want them to feel valued and have a great experience with us.  I'm committed to helping UKAEA build a positive industry reputation, and I'm loving every minute of it.

To learn more about the inclusive culture at UKAEA and to see a full list of vacancies please click here.