Bootcamp for Marketing, Media and Comms Industry Career Returners Launches for 2025

Back2Business Career Accelerator Programme, a free-to-attend six-day reorientation bootcamp for professionals who have taken three years + out of their careers for caring reasons, is now open for applications. Havas Media Network UK has been announced as headline partner for the 2025 programme.

The programme is the only UK marketing, digital, PR and sports marketing focused returners programme that upskills, trains and supports the ‘return’ of top talent into the workplace after a family/caring career break.

Back2Business is aimed at successful professionals at mid-senior level with an expertise in marketing and comms prior to their time out of the workplace. Co-founded by Amanda Fone and Liz Nottingham, it’s been delivered by f1 recruitment since 2013.

The programme offers up to 40 delegates practical career skills sessions covering a wide range of topics:

• Skills specific modules including: the impact of data and analytics on marcom strategies; expectations of immersive technology, AI and robotics; and understanding technological change, the 24/7 ‘always on’ news agenda, social media and ESG.
• Practical career skills sessions to help people navigate online job applications, creating a platinum LinkedIn profile, interviewing and negotiating skills and managing imposter syndrome.
• Networking event to provide delegates with the opportunity to meet leading companies eager to meet and hire returners.

Since 2013, the Back2Business programme has helped 400 women get back into their careers. Typically, sixty percent of each cohort are back in work within 6-months of completing the programme. The programme has helped deliver over £12 million to household incomes.

As part of the programme, participants are offered the opportunities to apply for current vacancies with Havas Media Network UK and the wider Havas UK group and other partners, including SSE energy company, Rail Delivery Group and the Ad Association.

Candidates can apply here by 7th February 2025.

Amanda Fone, co-founder of the Back2Business Career Accelerator Programme and CEO of f1 recruitment, says, “Women’s career paths often look very different to men’s career paths. Wiggly rather than linear. Women in the UK still take longer career breaks than men for caring reasons and can find themselves locked out of their careers when they try to return. This leaves an industry bereft  of some of its best, most experienced people. Our bootcamp is about rebuilding lost confidence with a structured programme that reconnects talent to an industry and vice versa.”

Sarah Baker, head of growth at Ledger Bennett, part of Havas Media Network UK, said, “It’s an open secret we struggle to retain our industry’s best talent as they progress to more senior positions. It’s vital we build a multigenerational workforce and ensure we always remain connected to and supportive of a wide range of talent.”