Vodafone’s ReConnect allows people to return to work after career break

Vodafone has unveiled a new HR initiarivde to allow people who had taken a career break to return to work.

Under the programme, the telecoms giant would fill 1,000 positions globally over the next three years, of which half would be in frontline roles such as shops and call centres, and the other half in managerial positions.

The ReConnect programme is a six-month transition programme, which according to Vodafone, would help those looking "to reconnect with the corporate world" and their career aspirations after a break from a job.

The programme will be introduced ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March and would not be restricted to former Vodafone staff. It will be open to both men and women, though the company expected many applicants to be women who had taken a break to have children.

Vodafone's move comes after MPs across parties, in January, called on big firms to offer paid returner programmes to help women continue their careers after a break. 

Co-chair of the Women and Work all-parliamentary group, Conservative MP Flick Drummond, said, "If we want to be a happier and more successful county, we must appreciate that some people take time out of the workplace for either caring responsibilities or to pursue other interests, '' City AM reported.

Vodafone's "ReConnect" programme would launch across 26 countries and offer people the chance to return to work on a full-time or flexible basis.

Employees on the programme would be also offered in-work training to "refresh and enhance skills".

According to KPMG data there were 96 million skilled women around the world aged between 30 and 54 who were currently on career breaks, of which roughly 55 million had gained experience Inbox (1,881)to middle management level or higher.

If they all returned to the workforce, the global economy would get a boost of £151 billion each year.