LCP partners with Timewise to launch returners to work programme

Actuarial professional services firm LCP has partnered with flexible recruitment experts Timewise in order to supply a new return to work programme. The programme offers former consultants a flexible and supportive route back into actuarial advisory work, following a break in their career.

As UK employers witness a tightening labour market, rising employment and an ageing population mean that the shrinking pool of skilled workers is increasingly sought after by top firms. In the professional services world, increased competition for talent has been exacerbated by a rising number of start-ups capable of leveraging technology to eat into the market share of established firms, while the UK’s withdrawal from the EU threatens to jeopardise companies’ access to employees from the continent.

Consultancies have come to see that one way of combatting this is encouraging returners to their firms. Programmes that allow people who have needed to take a break from their career, for various reasons from parenting to illness, to return to work are being increasingly offered. A number of firms have already announced such programmes, including KPMG's 'Return to Work', PwC’s 'Back to Business', A.T. Kearney's 'Encore', and Pensions consultancy Redington’s return to work offering.

Now, UK based actuarial consultancy LCP has launched a return to work programme of its own, in partnership with Timewise. While lots of return to work programmes offer support for a limited period, LCP hopes to differentiate its offering by taking the decision to make the related roles permanent. By targeting returners for permanent roles, the consultancy believes it can drive ahead of their competitors.

The ‘Resume’ initiative aims to support former pensions, actuarial and investment consultants who are looking  to restart their careers in the industry. The programme provides candidates with options for flexible working, and seeks to ease returners back into consulting work in a reassuring environment, providing access to individual career mentors and buddies, who will offer support in the early stage of induction. Candidates returning to the industry following a break can also access group coaching sessions, and LCP’s in-house programme of training and development, in order to get back up to speed.

The new alliance with Timewise – a multi-award winning social business and leading change agent for the flexible recruitment market in the UK – will meanwhile see the group equip LCP hiring managers with bespoke training to provide the skills and confidence to implement a flexible hiring process. Timewise is advertising Resume jobs via its national jobs board.

Commenting on the new partnership, LCP’s Staff Partner, Andrew Fortescue, said, “Resume is a programme designed to help returners to work restart their careers in the best way possible, we want to do all we can to make it a really positive experience.”

LCP’s HR Manager, Amanda Treagust added, “Resume will bring mutual benefit, helping individuals progress their careers in a positive environment while ensuring our business doesn’t miss out on a huge talent pool. We aim to enhance the diversity of our business and extend the scope of expertise we offer to our clients.”