The Power of MIND – Mums In Data

The free to access Power of MIND (Mums in Data) Programme from IN4 Group plans to train and place 1,000 career break mums and female carers into high skilled data roles by the end of 2025. 

The Power of Mind (Mums in Data) is a 12-week programme which aims to unlock the talent and potential of mothers and female carers who want to return to the workforce and help them into much in demand data roles across the UK.  Mums in Data trains and places career break mums and female carers in high-skilled data roles within local organisations such as Housing Associations, NHS and Local Authorities 

Data roles offer high flexibility, with many being fully remote, enabling mums and carers to pursue a career without compromising family or caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, mums and carers bring essential soft skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking, that are highly valued in data analyst roles. 

On completion of the programme, attendees will achieve a professional data qualification in data governance and compliance, culminating in a one-month data project placement with a local employer. The Programme is delivered in a flexible and hybrid form to ensure participants are able to access, without having to compromise on childcare or caring responsibilities. 

Mums in Data addresses a critical need for the UK economy. Demand for skilled data workers is growing, and the UK has a shortage, which is exacerbated by the failure to train and recruit women. Women are under-represented across all STEM fields, and in the data industry in 2023, men outnumbered their female colleagues in data by more than 4 to 1¹, at a time when businesses are struggling to recruit people with data skills.  

A recent government report² found that nearly 48% of businesses in UK were recruiting for data roles, with over 234,000 data roles to be filled. Almost half of businesses (46%) struggled to recruit for roles that require data skills.  

The first cohort will be starting in Blackburn, Lancashire, in December 2024 for an initial group of 20 mums and carers. Lancashire has one of the highest economically inactive populations in the UK.  

The Programme builds on IN4 Group’s track record since 2020 in delivering its award-winning programmes, designed to achieve optimal economic and social impact and drive fair access to technology futures for young people, career changers, early-stage entrepreneurs and industry small and large. IN4 Group operates across all UK regions and internationally across the Middle East. It has supported over 2,500 people into tech careers, of whom 41% women, 53% ethnic minorities, 51% career changers, and 49% unemployed. The Group achieved an incredible £14.3m of social impact in 2023, delivering a social return on investment of £6.28 for every £1 invested. 

Mo Isap, CEO, IN4 Group, said: “The inspiration for The Power of Mind (Mums in Data) has come from the success we’ve had with career break mums from some of our other Skills City programmes with life transforming impact; this has led me to create a more deliberate programme for stay-at-home mums and female carers, ensuring they can have great careers without compromising their children or caring responsibilities. The mission of the Programme is to meet the needs of the economy without compromising the responsibilities of society.” 

Xanthe Sharp, Apprentice Business Analyst (and Mother of Two) who completed a Skills City training programme with IN4: “Embarking on a new career has been transformative for my life. I’ve got confidence and it’s made a big difference to my family. My current role is 100% working from home; it fits in really well with the school runs and allows me to be there when the children are at home. The advice I’d give other mums thinking about whether to take this step is just go for it. You’ll have something amazing on your CV and will learn new skills.”