Returning to work after a career break can feel daunting, whether that break was for childcare, caring responsibilities or other personal reasons. The Government’s Returner Toolkit provides practical guidance to help people make that transition with confidence. It covers everything from recognising the skills and experience you already have and deciding on your career direction, through to refreshing your knowledge, rebuilding professional networks and exploring different routes back into employment, including returnships, supported hiring and return-to-practice programmes.

The toolkit also offers useful advice on flexible working, updating your CV, preparing for interviews and managing the practical changes that come with returning to the workplace. Importantly, it recognises that a career break does not diminish the experience or value someone can bring to an organisation — and that people successfully return to rewarding careers even after many years away.

For anyone considering their own next step, it is a useful place to start. Read the Government’s Returner Toolkit.