A Loughborough College event has marked the launch of a collaboration set to drive Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) success across the region.
Key contributors from a host of business, education and training organisations including television and radio presenter and TeenTech founder Maggie Philbin OBE, joined the College in a move to close the STEM skills gap which aims to impact more than 60,000 employees and students throughout Leicestershire.
With recent figures showing 70% of employers in the county had found it difficult to hire staff with the right skills - yet twice as many jobs expected to be available in science, research, engineering and technology as in other fields over the next four years - the partnership initiative is designed to develop a pipeline of employees to help meet that demand.
“The event was a great success and we look forward to building on this firm foundation and creating a STEM community of employers, education providers and decision-makers across the region to drive forward our shared aspiration to close the STEM skills gap,” said Loughborough College vice principal Sharon Townes.
“We have exciting plans which will support young people to work collaboratively, via project-based learning, with our STEM community partners to embrace innovation and research and development, benefit from hearing inspirational speakers, take part in competitions and awards and to access valid and relevant work based opportunities. We are intent on working with our partners in industry and education to create a clear line of sight into employment for all our learners from the earliest possible age.
“At Loughborough College we are dedicated to providing our students with high quality science, technology, engineering and maths education. It is vital to keep pace with emerging technology and to meet the very latest needs of the jobs market and we are very excited to help forge the partnerships vital to providing our area’s employees and students with the very best opportunities.”
Neville Blowers, Operations Manager at Polypipe, added: “The collaborative STEM breakfast event was a great opportunity for local businesses to get involved with the on-going development of STEM curriculum and delivery, as well as the preparation of young people moving into the work place.“
On 24 October TeenTech East Midlands Festival Day will bring together up to 50 schools across the region and more than 100 scientists, technologists and engineers for a day of challenges and experiments. TeenTech works directly with young people across the UK to address the STEM skills gap with a full programme of project-based and experiential learning through school sessions, large scale Festival events and an awards programme focussing on innovation with in depth support from industry. For further details contactinfo@teentechevent.com
Pictured: (from left) Neville Blowers, Polypipe; Sharon Townes, Loughborough College; Des Gentleman, Loughborough College; Maggie Philbin OBE, Teen Tech; Andrew Morley, Great Central Railway; Chris Cockerton, Loughborough College