Enfield Council: Returner's Programme Wins Award

Enfield Council’s career returner programme wins prestigious award
- The Council worked with Women Returners for advice and coaching on its programme
- Next phase of the returners programme to launch in early 2018
 
Enfield Council has been recognised at the Personnel Today Awards 2017, winning the Innovation in Recruitment category for its Career Returners @ Enfield programme.

 
The Council’s triumphant recruitment programme for former professionals beat off stiff competition from high-profile organizations including Atom Bank, DHL Supply Chain, SAP UK, The AA, Barclays PLC and Lloyds Banking Group.
 
The initiative, launched in February 2017, received nearly 100 applications for six, six-month professionally-paid, higher-level internships. Although it was open to men and women, the successful applicants were all women from diverse backgrounds who have since found longer-term positions within Enfield Council.
 
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance & Efficiency, Cllr Dino Lemonides, said: “We fully appreciate the value and potential of bringing back former professionals to work for the Council. This has been a fantastic opportunity to tap into a massive pool of talent and the Council has been able to fill posts in areas where we have traditionally lost out to the private sector.
 
“Congratulations to everyone involved and of course, we send our best wishes to the six returners who are now back in the work-force. We are extremely proud of this initiative and look forward to the next phase of recruitment in the New Year.”
 
Enfield Council worked in partnership with Women Returners, a consultancy, coaching and network organisation that focuses on enabling talented professionals to return to work after an extended career break.

Julianne Miles, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Women Returners, said: “We were delighted to work with the pioneering team at Enfield Council to develop and support the first ‘returnship’ within local Government. The success of the programme is clearly demonstrated by the fact that 100% of participants have converted into ongoing roles at Enfield Council after the six-month period – a fantastic achievement.”
 
The success of the programme has generated demand from other managers across various services who want to find a returner for their team. It has also reduced the reliance on agency workers which will improve stability within the workforce as well as reduce costs.

Enfield Council will be recruiting for its next Career Returner Programme in early 2018. For details go to Enfield Council’s jobs and careers web page: https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/jobs-and-careers/ .