Backtobusinesship Seeks to get Mums Back to Work in Media and Marketing

Starcom Liz Nottingham
Nottingham: “We hope to build on last year’s success by attracting even more support from across the industry”

Firms in the marketing, media and PR sectors are being encouraged to do their bit to allow returning mothers to showcase their skills and re-enter the industry in support of the Back2businesship programme. Now in its second year, the initiative is run by media agency Starcom Mediavest Group and recruitment firm f1, and is supported this year by new partner Golin PR. It aims to return-to-business female media and marcomms professionals who have been out of the industry for five or more years.

Following a part-time, month-long course – which will aim to galvanise, and provide training and confidence to enable re-entry to work – Back2businesship is seeking practical business placement opportunities for this year’s delegates.

Recent research has revealed that the marketing, media and PR industry is one of the poorest sectors for offering flexible working positions, with only 2 per cent being advertised, well below the nationwide average. There will be 25 participants taking the course, who have all had successful careers in PR, marketing or the media, before taking a career break.

Candidates include experienced media professionals from in-house, agency and consultancy backgrounds. There is also a former Head of Digital at a national newspaper and an advertising account director from the finance sector.

“It is clear that returning parents in the media and marketing industry often don’t feel they have the help they need,” said Liz Nottingham, Starcom Mediavest Group’s regional HR director. “So we wanted to develop a fully rounded programme to provide these parents with the confidence to return to work. This is the second year of our Back2businessship initiative and we hope to build on last year’s success by attracting even more support from across the industry.”

There’s more information about the initiative here.