Routes Back Into Tech
Returnships, apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and more, plus honest guidance from the employer side on what actually helps returners succeed.
BackThis is a curated directory of routes and guidance, not a live jobs board. We don't operate an accounts or employer-matching system. Where a destination exists on this site (accredited programmes, our employer network), we link straight to it.
Returnships and other structured routes
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships aren't just for school leavers. Adult and career-changer apprenticeships are common in tech, and they let you earn a salary while training toward a recognised qualification.
This is one of the most structured, lowest-risk ways back into tech work: no tuition fees, a job from day one, and a qualification that's directly recognised by employers.
Browse accredited apprenticeshipsSkills Bootcamps
Free or low-cost, government-backed Skills Bootcamps run 12-16 weeks and are built to get you job-ready quickly in specific technical skills, often with an interview guaranteed at the end.
These suit people who want a faster, more intensive route than an apprenticeship and who can commit to full-time or substantial part-time study for a few months.
Find accredited Skills BootcampsReturnships
A returnship is a structured, time-boxed re-entry programme, similar in spirit to a graduate scheme, but designed specifically for people returning after a career break rather than for new graduates.
They typically run 12-24 weeks, include paid work on real projects, mentoring, and a defined route to a permanent role at the end. Not every employer runs one, and availability varies by sector and by year, so treat this as a route to look out for and ask about directly rather than something guaranteed to be open right now.
Browse dedicated returner programmesVolunteering
Volunteering, for a charity's IT support, a community group's website, or a local organisation's data and admin systems, is a genuine way to build recent, provable experience while you're between paid roles.
It closes the gap that worries most returners: "recent" experience on a CV. A few months of regular volunteering is a legitimate answer to "what have you been doing since your break."
Explore course & provider optionsWork Experience & Internships
Short, structured work experience placements (a few days to a few weeks) exist for career changers as well as school leavers. They're a lower-commitment way to test a role before applying properly.
Ask providers and employers directly whether they offer short placements alongside their main programmes. Many do informally even when it isn't advertised as a distinct product.
See the employer networkMentoring
A mentor who already works in the role or sector you're aiming for can shortcut months of guesswork on realistic expectations, what a first 90 days actually looks like, and how to talk about your break.
Mentoring pairs well with any of the structured routes above rather than replacing them. It's guidance alongside a plan, not a plan on its own.
Find SoftSkillingIt coaching via LearnersEmployer Insights
Inclusive recruitment, in practice
Employers who recruit returners well tend to do a few concrete things: they remove unnecessary continuous-employment requirements from job specs, they train hiring managers to read a CV gap neutrally, and they offer some flexibility on interview format (e.g. a call instead of an in-person panel for a first stage). None of this is universal; it varies a lot by employer, but it's what "good" looks like when you encounter it.
What employers say they actually look for
Across sectors, the consistent themes are: evidence of recent effort to update skills (a course, a credential, a project), a clear and honest account of the break, and specific examples of transferable skills rather than a generic list. Technical proficiency matters, but for entry and re-entry roles, motivation and evidence of recent learning generally seem to count for at least as much.
Industry expectations, generally
Many employers now offer hybrid or flexible working as standard rather than as a special accommodation, which has made returning around caring responsibilities considerably more feasible than it was some years ago. Expectations around digital tools appear to have risen too: most roles now assume some comfort with cloud-based collaboration tools (Teams, Slack, shared drives) even for non-technical positions, which is part of why refreshing digital skills before applying is worth the time.
Where to go next
Career Pathways
Eight curated pathways with salary data and accredited programmes.
Digital Skills Check
Get a clear, honest starting point in two minutes.
Refresh Your Skills
Close the gap on tools and workplace habits that have moved on.
Confidence Hub
Interview and CV confidence, plus managing imposter syndrome.
Career Change & Flexible Working
Transferable skills and flexible working patterns explained.
Funding & Support
Skills Bootcamps, adult education and bursary routes.
Common Questions
Ready to find your route in?
Browse accredited apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and courses, or see the employers who already work with us.