IN4 to train and place 1,000 career break mums and carers in high skilled data roles

By IN4.0 Group

18 Dec 2024

xanthe 061124 010 copy.jpg.jpg

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 highly skilled data roles by the end of 2025.

Led by Blackburn entrepreneur Mo Isap, leading professional technology skills provider IN4 Group has created The Power of Mind (Mums in Data) Programme.

By the end of 2025, Mums in Data plans to train and place 1,000 career break mums and female carers in high-skilled data roles within local organisations such as Housing Associations, NHS and Local Authorities.

IN4 Group will work across 25 UK Local Authorities, with plans to upskill 40 women in each local community. The programme will be co-invested from public and private sector partners and free to access. 

 Mums in Data 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.  

 The programme addresses the current challenge that many women face in choosing between childcare and their careers, resulting in a high percentage of women becoming economically inactive, impacting their personal health and well-being.

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 — like problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking — that are highly valued in data analyst roles.

 The most recent UK labour market statistics show that 9.26m people aged 16-64 were economically inactive, setting the inactivity rate at 21.8 per cent. Of this, 1.75 million (18.9 per cent) are caring for family or home, of which a substantial portion are likely stay-at-home mums.

Mums in Data will address 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 four to one, at a time when businesses are struggling to recruit people with data skills.

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

 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 will be delivered in a flexible and hybrid form to ensure the participants can access it without having to compromise on childcare or caring responsibilities.

Recruitment of the first cohort will start in December 2024 for an initial group of 20 mums and carers in Blackburn, Lancashire. 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 per cent women, 53 per cent ethnic minorities, 51 per cent career changers, and 49 per cent 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 of IN4 Group, said: “As the Government has acknowledged to get Britain growing again, we’ve got to get Britain working again. What is needed is a targeted, hyper local approach which helps specific groups, such as mums and carers, get back into the workforce, and not just rely on job centres.  

"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 Cloud Analytics Bootcamp with IN4, said: “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 per cent 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.”

Latest news

1

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

2

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day Dave Walker with Richard Slater at Lancashire Business Day

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day

08 Oct 2025

3

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors Craig Hemmings

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors

08 Oct 2025

4

Chamber calls for three council county Lancashire County Council County Hall

Chamber calls for three council county

08 Oct 2025

5

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance Victorian Plumbing Leyland

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance

07 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin