Domino launches second returners program

Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) has partnered with STEM Returners for the second time, reaffirming its commitment to supporting engineering professionals in returning to work in manufacturing after a career break. 

The new program includes roles based around the UK and is open to professionals with any length of career break. STEM Returners will source the candidates and provide career coaching and mentoring. At the end of the 12-week paid program, returners may be offered the opportunity to become permanent Domino employees. 

The new collaboration follows a successful pilot program last year, which saw Gary Jiang return to work after being made redundant from a job he had held for 20 years. 

‘I haven’t had much experience looking for jobs,’ he admitted. ‘My previous experience was quite specialised, which meant that job opportunities in my field were limited. Many roles required high-level qualifications or expertise in slightly different areas, making it difficult to be considered.

'Additionally, I felt that some employers in fast-growing industries preferred younger candidates. This made the job search process quite challenging and, at times, discouraging.’ 

Through the STEM Returners program, Jiang secured a role as a hardware test engineer at Domino’s Cambridge site and has now been made a permanent member of the team. 

He said: ‘This role is in a completely new industry, but the team has been welcoming and supportive. There’s a lot to learn, and I feel energised by the challenge. I’m really enjoying working with new technologies and developing new skills. The STEM Returners team has been really supportive, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with professionals, learn new skills, and explore different industries.’ 

Research from STEM Returners (STEM Returners Index) has found that many people face challenges when returning to work after a career break, with recruitment bias, a lack of recent experience, gender, age, and race being the main barriers to entry. For example, half (51 percent) of respondents said a perceived lack of recent experience was a barrier to entry, an increase from 38 percent in the 2023 Index and more than a quarter (26 percent) of women said they felt they have personally experienced bias in the recruitment process due to their gender compared to eight percent of men. 
  
STEM Returners aim to eliminate these barriers by giving candidates real work experience and mentoring during their placement, as well as supporting them to adjust to life back in work. 

Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, said: ‘We are very proud to continue our partnership with Domino to return highly skilled people back into the industry. There is a well-known skills shortage in the manufacturing industry, but despite a clear need for people, professionals who have had a career break are often overlooked. Only by working together will we make vital changes in recruitment practices to help those who are finding it challenging to return to the sector and improve diversity and inclusion.’ 

Luigi Pistilli, Domino UK general manager, added: ‘Domino is pleased to announce a new partnership with STEM Returners, aimed at attracting and securing exceptional talent to support our continued growth and innovation. By working alongside STEM Returners, trusted for their experience in identifying and supporting returning professionals, we will enhance our ability to connect with skilled, motivated individuals who share our vision and values. With their deep understanding of the STEM landscape and extensive returner network, STEM Returners will help us identify and integrate the right people to strengthen our teams and drive our success.’ 

More than 600 candidates have joined STEM Returners programs across the UK since the organization first launched in 2017. To view STEM Returners’ opportunities, visit here.