Now open to applications, “Returnship” will create an initial 10 places for opportunities and experience at either Entain or McLaren over a six-month period. The scheme is designed to support women at different stages in their careers, offering a one-to-one transitional coach specializing in returning to work, flexible working options, networking with senior executives, and a chance to explore permanent role opportunities after the program. Placement roles include software engineers, back-end developers, data scientists, and design engineers. Eligible candidates must have been unemployed, underemployed, or reskilling for three months, possess at least two years of prior professional experience, and hold STEM-focused qualifications or demonstrate experience or passion for technology, data, or engineering.
The new program aims to address the gender disparity in STEM fields, as evidenced by a recent study by STEM Women that found only 26% of STEM graduates are women, and women make up only 24% of the STEM workforce. In the case of Entain, their own research shows that 26% of sports bettors worldwide are female, while F1’s study reveals that 40% of their fans are women. Alongside Entain’s existing Reboot@Ivy initiative, which helps women return to technology careers in Hyderabad, India, and Manila, the “Returnship” program seeks to increase access to education and training in technology, promote diversity, and impact the lives of over a million people positively by 2030.
“The fusion of technology, sport, and entertainment, and our shared commitment to supporting talented women in re-entering the workforce, led us to launch this brand-new program with our partner, McLaren,” said Entain CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen. “Through this program, we not only support ambitious women today but also inspire future generations of girls to pursue their dream STEM roles.”
This program launch coincides with Formula 1’s recent announcement of an all-female racing series for young drivers in their F1 Academy. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown added, “This opportunity enables us to drive real change within the engineering and technology industries. It is part of our commitment to making STEM careers more accessible and achieving a goal of having 40% of our employees from under-represented backgrounds by 2030.”
