GCHQ has launched a new employment initiative aimed at helping people on a career break return to roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Working in partnership with the organisation STEM Returners, which will source candidates and provide coaching to support applicants through the recruitment process, the agency’s first programme aims to recruit 10 senior software engineers.
The programme comes as new research suggests returning to STEM careers is becoming increasingly challenging. According to the 2025 STEM Returners Index, 75 per cent of respondents said they were finding the return-to-work process difficult or very difficult, up from 65 per cent in 2022.
More than half, 53 per cent, reported bias against a lack of recent experience, while 41 per cent cited age bias. Over a quarter of women, 28 per cent, said they had experienced gender bias compared to four per cent of men. Two-thirds said the challenges were damaging their self-confidence and 85 per cent had questioned whether to continue in STEM altogether.
Marsha Quallo-Wright, director technology futures at GCHQ, said: 'GCHQ is committed to building a workforce that represents the country it serves. This means bringing together a richer mix of minds, backgrounds and cultures, to fulfil our purpose: keeping the UK safe, resilient and prosperous in an uncertain and volatile world. We welcome the STEM Returners programme as a really practical way of supporting people with STEM skills through their first step back into employment after a career break.'
Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, added: 'A career break should not mean your career stops. We are therefore very proud to be working with GCHQ on their inaugural returners programme, to provide more opportunities for highly skilled people to return to STEM.'
