Return Ready Insights Survey

Have You Taken a Career Break?

Whether you’ve already returned to work or are planning your next step, we’d love to hear about your experience.

Complete our short survey and help us create better support for returners.

A Mother’s Voice

Part-Time Doesn’t Mean Less Committed. It Might Mean More.
  • 6th July 2026
  • 10 mins read

“We’re really looking for someone full-time.” You’ve heard it. Maybe you’ve said it. And underneath sits an assumption so old nobody questions it: that part-time means less serious, less committed, second-best. It’s wrong – and it’s costing employers the very people they claim they can’t find. Here’s the myth, taken apart piece by piece.

How Can Young Mothers Get the Support They Need?
  • 7th December 2022
  • 3 mins read

Embracing motherhood at a young age can feel isolating and overwhelming, especially when your peers are on a different path. But remember, every mother’s journey is unique. This blog post sheds light on how young mothers can find the support they need during this transformative period of their lives. With insightful suggestions and practical tips, you’ll discover how to navigate parenthood confidently, even when your support network might be still figuring it out too.

Why Society Makes You Feel Like You Are Failing and What to Do About It
  • 4th May 2022
  • 3 mins read

Discover why societal norms often leave mothers feeling like they’re failing in our latest LinkedIn Live chat featuring coach Lucy Higgins. In this insightful discussion, we debunk the damaging ‘perfect mother’ myth and explore how it supports a patriarchal view of women. Lucy shares her vision of a more authentic and manageable motherhood, where women are at the centre, not their children. She also provides invaluable resources and advice for those looking to transition away from being a ‘perfect mother’. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of motherhood, this replay is a must-watch.

End Salary History – And Why It is Key To Closing the Gender Pay Gap
  • 2nd May 2021
  • 2 mins read

“What was your last salary?”

How many times have you been asked that question at a job interview? How does that question make you feel, and how is that question contributing to the gender pay gap? Learn more about why the Fawcett Society thinks this question damages women’s careers, and the work they’re doing to try and ban this question from being asked at a job interview in this thought-provoking article.

The Truth about Enhanced Maternity Pay
  • 22nd April 2021
  • 6 mins read

In this thought-provoking post, we delve into the complex relationship between enhanced maternity pay and women’s career trajectories. While additional maternity benefits are crucial, the stringent eligibility criteria tied to them might be holding women back. We discuss how these policies influence decisions around job changes and career advancements, potentially widening the gender pay gap. Join the conversation as we explore solutions to make maternity benefits more accessible, ensuring they support rather than hinder women’s professional growth.

It’s a Man’s World
  • 6th March 2021
  • 7 mins read

The modern workplace has been designed by men for men with the assumption there is someone in a supporting role at home. As a result, there are very few skilled and well-paid part-time jobs on offer. Why do employers place such little value on their part-time workforce? Is it because it is made up predominantly of women, and that, throughout history, women’s work has been undervalued by society? Read on to learn why history is still adversely affecting women today.

An Open Letter to UK Employers
  • 6th February 2021
  • 5 mins read

Women won’t achieve workplace equality for 50 years, says the World Economic Forum. But here’s the thing – women will NEVER achieve workplace equality until we have equality at home.

How can employers help? Read on…

‘Just’ a Mum
  • 31st January 2021
  • 6 mins read

Why is mothering so undervalued….by society….and by ourselves?

Just a mum… How often have you said that about yourself, or perhaps about another woman? Many women who choose to stay at home and raise their children often report feeling underappreciated by their partners and society. Why does it feel that society belittles what must surely be one of the world’s most challenging jobs? Is there anything we can do to change the narrative?

Where Are All the Role Models?
  • 23rd January 2021
  • 6 mins read

Facing the corporate world as a working mother often feels like a lonely journey. In this insightful post, we examine the scarcity of realistic role models for mothers striving to balance career growth with family life. Discover why seeing successful, relatable figures is crucial for inspiring mothers to maintain their career trajectories and how the lack of such examples might be driving talented women towards freelancing or leaving the workforce altogether.