"I have regained a sense of personal identity beyond my family commitments, which allows me space to focus on other things."

I was previously a Project Manager with nine years of experience across construction, adventure travel and hospitality. I left to have my first child – followed by another two – which led to a career break of six and a half years. During this time, my family and I moved from London to the countryside, buying a house that required much building work. Project managing the development reignited my love of construction and gave me confidence. I realised it was time to return to work.

I began researching Returnships, targeting the construction industry, and as soon as I found Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, I knew I was in the right place. I applied, was successful, and here I am!

I joined Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's Re-connect Returnship programme as an assistant planner in the Highways team. It has been a purely positive experience for me: comprehensive training, autonomy in my work, support when required and a fantastic team environment. I'm now a planner, still learning a lot and enjoying my work on the A12 Concrete Roads Reconstruction Works framework.

My transition back to work has been great. Childcare logistics was initially quite challenging, but once in place, juggling work with home life has been much easier than I'd anticipated.

The highlight of my return to work is the feeling of independence it brings. I have regained a sense of personal identity beyond my family commitments, which allows me space to focus on other things.

My advice for others returning to work is that companies are looking to hire good people. It's an open, friendly application process; there are no tricky questions, and you won't be judged for taking time off. I found it daunting to start with but incredibly rewarding. You have nothing to lose by applying.

"I have expanded my horizons by exploring this new experience and meeting and working with my new colleagues."

I was previously a Quantity Surveyor and Package Manager. Taking care of my family of husband, two sons, and daughter led me to leave the workforce and become a full-time housewife for nine years.

I saw Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's Re-connect return-to-work programme on their website and thought, 'I should apply'. After applying and being selected for the interviews – and after much-needed support and guidance through their recruitment process and completing the programme, I am thrilled to be a permanent member of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's Rail team as an Assistant Estimator working in Colindale Station's Work Winning Team.

To succeed in the return-to-work programme, I embarked on training sessions designed to empower and boost my self-confidence, helping me prepare to re-enter the workforce.

I was assigned a fantastic work buddy who set me up a measurement exercise using specialist software and trained me to use some other applications. He also encouraged me to research The Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM), Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) train track construction, and the difference between project contract types, whilst also providing valuable feedback on my work.

My line manager was also incredibly supportive. He consistently supported my training programme requests and involved me in all team meetings and on-site visits to our fantastic Parsons Tunnel project. This helped me to understand not only its construction, but also the problem-solving during the contract period and feedback from our operation team to our bidding team. All my experience from the Re-connect return-to-work programme will benefit me in future when I'm working on estimating and pricing work.

I immensely enjoyed the programme and the challenge of my first time working on a Rail project. It was more than I expected, and there is still much to learn in my role, which I look forward to. I have also returned to work well - my supportive family and friends helped me achieve an excellent work-life balance.

The highlight of my return to work is that I have gained confidence. I have expanded my horizons by exploring this new experience and meeting and working with my new colleagues.

"The highlight of my return to work is my team and colleagues' support and completing all the training to get me back on my feet."

I took a career break for two years, from 2018 to 2020, to be the primary carer for a family member who was ill. Before that, I had various experiences, having worked in the construction and automotive industry and a role as a Civil Servant. Later, before my time off, I was an entrepreneur.

A friend who works for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure brought my attention to their return-to-work programme. I applied successfully and found their recruitment process very smooth - I could not have asked for it to be better in any way.

As part of the Re-connect return-to-work programme, my role was to work in the Highways team as an Assistant Site Engineer on the Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) Lydiate Ash demolition project, where I was lucky enough to work with outstanding and brilliant colleagues willing to support my development without judging me. Everyone worked together, putting their egos aside to solve problems quickly. We practised active listening daily, and the team employed productive and respectful internal communication strategies.

While on the programme, I received lots of structured learning to aid me in my role. I also acquired valuable technical skills on-site and via training courses.

It’s been challenging but enjoyable and worth it. Even after succeeding in the programme's requirements and being offered and accepting a permanent position in my Assistant Site Engineer role, I am still enjoying it because it is still a challenge. Every day, I am still picking up new skills and developing my areas of improvement!

I found that transitioning back to work took a bit of getting used to - especially having to wake up super early in the morning and driving long hours to the site. But it's alright. I am used to it now!

The highlight of my return to work is my team and colleagues' support and taking part in and completing all the training to get me back on my feet.

"I take great pride when I tell friends I’m working for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and it makes me realise how much I’ve missed working as part of the sector."

The Returnship programme was an opportunity for me to return to my roots of civil and environmental engineering. I’m an M.Eng graduate and took an 18 year break following the birth of my first child. I saw the programme as a chance to retrain, get back into the sector and fulfil my initial goal to become a qualified engineer.

In the time since I left the industry, I’d retrained and taught as a secondary school mathematics teacher and at the point of application, I was working in the accounts department of a national plant and machinery hirer. With my two children almost grown, I felt I needed a new challenge and the Returnship programme came at the perfect time.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has a great reputation within the industry and as an employer. So while it was a risk to give up a steady position, it was also a fantastic opportunity for me to take back my life and continue with the career I’d started so many years ago.

I have been with the company over four years now and I take great pride when I tell friends I’m working for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; it makes me realise how much I’ve missed working in the sector.

"The highlight of my return to work has been enjoying the Re-connect programme's marvellous cohort sessions, training and development opportunities, and meeting my new colleagues."

I was previously a client project manager in the construction of state schools as part of a significant development programme where an unexpected opportunity arose for voluntary redundancy, which led me to take a career break for five years. During this time, my caring responsibilities for a sick, elderly relative took priority, and it also gave me time to tutor our youngest son, who has dyslexia and dyspraxia, who then excelled in his sixth-form exams and gained a university place.

I was attracted to Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's Re-connect return-to-work programme after learning about their social value and work ethics whilst working alongside sister company Morgan Sindall Construction in my previous role.

I enjoyed a welcoming and enthusiastic experience from the Re-connect return-to-work programme manager, who explained the entire recruitment process, whereby I became fully engaged with the concept of returning to work. I was fortunate to see this opportunity on their website and then to be considered for employment.

Having previously been employed as a project manager in a construction role, I have now re-established my career as a senior quantity surveyor in the Highways team at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, working on the A11 Concrete Roads Reconstruction Works framework. Over time, I plan to overcome challenges in my new role with my colleagues' support and as my experience, skillset, and knowledge develop daily.

The highlight of my return to work has been enjoying the programme's marvellous cohort sessions, training, and development opportunities, and meeting my new colleagues.

My advice for others considering returning to work who have worked in our industry previously or have relevant transferable skills is to apply to join the programme and, upon successful enrolment, to learn, train diligently and stay curious, resilient, and motivated!

"My advice for others considering returning to work is to "just do it!’"

The Returnship programme allowed me to return to my background of working as an electrician for 20 years, after working as a physiotherapist for 22 years.

While attending my son's careers evening in 2019 at a local higher education college, I mentioned to a lady representing Sellafield Limited that I was considering leaving physiotherapy to return to my earlier profession of being an electrician, and that is when I learned that Morgan Sindall Infrastructure ran a return-to-work programme. The rest, as they say, is history.

I’ve attended many training courses to keep me up to speed with my on-site working practice. For the more practical side of my role, I’ve been working alongside other electricians and have the support to seek guidance if required, which has worked very well for me to get back into the swing of things.

After the programme, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure employed me as an electrician in their Nuclear team, working on the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance in Cumbria. I look forward to going to work and experiencing great satisfaction when I can step back, look at a job and think, "I did that".

The most challenging parts of returning to my original career and of the programme have been getting my body accustomed to earlier alarm calls, working outdoors, and doing physical work again. However, these are minor details, and I never have for an instant regretted taking this step.

The highlight of returning to work is having job satisfaction and less stress than my previous role.

My advice for others considering returning to work is to "just do it!"