New national event to unlock the UK’s untapped maternal talent pool

Posted on 17 September 2026 • University news

Beyondtheschoolrun and The Open University (OU) are to launch a national flagship event to redefine motherhood, potential and the future of work.

For generations, the conversation around motherhood and work has focused on what women “return” to: returning to work; returning to confidence; returning to careers; returning to who they were before.

Now a new national event is challenging that narrative. recognising that motherhood is not a pause. It is an evolution.

Beyondtheschoolrun (part of the WeAreBeyond ecosystem) and the OU have announced Where Motherhood Becomes Mumentum — a national flagship event bringing together mothers, employers, entrepreneurs and changemakers to explore what becomes possible when women are given the space, inspiration and opportunity to grow.

Taking place on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at One Churchill Place, Canary Wharf the event will explore how society, businesses and education providers can better recognise and support women through one of life’s greatest transformations.

At a time when organisations are navigating changing workforce expectations, skills shortages and the rapid impact of AI, the event will explore how unlocking human potential can create new opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities.

The event will focus on:

• Motherhood and identity
• The future of work
• AI and future skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Lifelong learning
• Inclusive leadership
• Corporate change

Louise Webster, Founder of Beyondtheschoolrun and WeAreBeyond, said:

“Motherhood is a time when we can discover new possibilities, reconnect with our ambitions and unlock potential we may not have realised was there. But potential needs the right environment to grow. When mothers are given the opportunity to evolve, dream bigger and step into their potential, we don’t just transform individual lives — we create a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities and the world.”

The event builds on the shared mission of Beyondtheschoolrun and The Open University to widen access to opportunity and support women at every stage of their journey.

For The Open University, the event is the next step in Mumentum, the campaign it launched in October 2024 to help mothers and primary caregivers keep moving forward in learning and work. Mumentum addresses the systemic barriers mothers face by providing flexible, affordable learning that fits around parenting schedules, enabling mothers to build skills and qualifications at a pace and in a mode that reflects their lived reality.

Central to the campaign are two practical, research-informed toolkits — one for Employers and one for Parents — developed by academics at The Open University Business School and published in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions. They are now in active use across more than 650 Jobcentre Plus locations in Great Britain, with parallel distribution through the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

At Where Motherhood Becomes Mumentum, The Open University brings that work into the room: Mumentum sessions for mothers and for employers, guidance on flexible routes into study and qualifications, and its research on the motherhood penalty and what genuinely shifts it. [OU speakers and session formats to be confirmed]

Kendal Wright. Senior Lecturer, at the OU says:

“The future of work requires us to recognise talent in all its forms. Mothers bring a unique combination of skills, experience and perspectives that can strengthen organisations, communities and society.”

Keith Schofield, Executive Dean, Faculty of Business & Law, says:

“The Open University’s recent Business Barometer report found that 57% of organisations have skills shortages. This means employers need to tap into wider talent pools across society. The Mumentum research continues to show that mothers and primary caregivers face systemic barriers that limit both educational access and career progression.

Through this campaign at The Open University, we are generating the evidence base needed to inform employer practice, strengthen organisational accountability, and support national policy reform. The research teams aim is to ensure that parental inclusion is not an optional initiative, but a standard embedded across workplaces and sectors.”

For more than 55 years, The Open University has transformed lives through flexible, online, tutor-supported learning. Through its Mumentum campaign, it supports mothers to develop confidence, access learning opportunities and connect with new possibilities.

Beyondtheschoolrun is an award-winning platform connecting mothers to their skills and talents to empower them to grow personally and professionally.

Speakers announced to date include Louise Hill, Founder of GoHenry; Nicola Piercy, Co-Founder of Stripe & Stare; and Alla Ouvarova, Co-Founder of Two Chicks, amongst others.

Hosted by Barclays at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, the event brings together organisations committed to supporting women, lifelong learning and inclusive workplaces.

Motherhood doesn’t reduce potential. It reveals it.

To attend Where Motherhood Becomes Mumentum or explore partnership opportunities click on the following link:

[email protected]

Main image: Picture shows mother kissing her young daughter. Credit: Pixabay