NEWS
GOVERNMENT GRANT OF £1.1m
KICKSTARTS ‘GET AHEAD WITH
STEM’ CAMPAIGN
YOUNG PEOPLE from low- Trust will deliver 160 STEM science and technology subjects at inspiring introduction to STEM
income families, ethnic
days – half or one day in-school GCSE and A level is an ambition careers which offer higher-than-
minorities and girls are
sessions – and eight residential referred to in the Science and
average earnings and routes into
being given a financial
courses over a two-year period. Innovation Investment Framework
the highest levels in industry. In
helping hand by the
Each STEM day will introduce Next Steps publication of 2006,
addition, the courses will
50 pupils to the challenges of a and one which will play a crucial
government to encourage
enhance the professional STEM
hands-on design-and-make role in ensuring UK industry has
them into engineering.
delivery skills of 200 teachers
project to increase their a big enough pool of talent to
The Smallpeice Trust has been
and make a positive social
understanding of the importance maintain its competitiveness in
awarded funding from the
contribution in promoting the
of STEM subjects and develop years to come.
Children, Young People and
benefits of teamwork.”
transferable skills such as Currently, only 8% of
Families Grant Programme to
The director of WISE, Terry
teamwork, creativity, problem engineering and technical workers
support new courses. The £1.1m
Marsh, agrees. “Girls often find
solving and time management. are female, which is why the
grant will enable the Smallpeice
Participants for the residential courses have an objective of
they are drifting into traditional
Trust, in partnership with
courses will be selected from achieving at least 50% female
appreticeship fields of childcare
STEMNET and the WISE
STEM day attendees, with each participation.
or hairdressing. They often have
Campaign to promote the
course giving 100 pupils the The Smallpeice Trust’s chief
little awareness, understanding
importance of science,
opportunity to gain an even executive Dr Andrew Cave
or experience of other career
technology, engineering and
deeper insight into engineering commented: “We are delighted to
possibilities and so cannot make
maths (STEM) subjects to 8,000
plus a taste of university life. receive funding which will enable
truly informed choices. This
schoolchildren from
But it won’t just be the pupils us to reach those that might not project will show them the
disadvantaged backgrounds over
who benefit. Recent industry otherwise have the opportunity to personal relevance of the
two consecutive years. The surveys show the major concern consider engineering as a viable
exciting opportunities in
courses will specifically target for engineering businesses at the career choice and to address the
science, engineering and
‘hard to reach’ groups. moment is not a lack of demand emerging skills gap.
technology, and perhaps change
The new programme is called for business, but rather a distinct “Our new courses will give
their lives.”
GET AHEAD WITH STEM! shortage of skilled personnel. 8,000 pupils from disadvantaged
Starting in April, the Smallpeice Encouraging students to choose or minority backgrounds an
Circle No.E14
Taking a 3D journey through
plastic moulding, mixing hair
gel; making metal aircraft, npower
a jet engine as teenagers test
soldering badges, laser-cutting
key-rings and creating bags.
sparks
apprenticeships
Sid the robot helped Jaguar
interest in
Land Rover demonstrate the
TEENAGERS tested out some Thousands of teenagers from
high-tech world of
engineering
of Britain’s top jobs ahead of across the region were given a
manufacturing and engineering,
National Apprenticeship Week. valuable insight into these jobs
while Hyde-based Martin
THE NPOWER ‘Enthuse Day’
They saw the work of North when they joined apprentices and
Conquest showcased its
recently rolled into Cramlington
West apprentices first hand when other staff from fourteen top
innovative high perfomance
Learning Village in
they joined in fun activities at the manufacturing and engineering
motorcycle which can be driven Northumberland where over
Make It in Manufacturing zone at businesses.
from a wheelchair. Other fifty students took part in the
the recent Skills NorthWest Make It in Manufacturing
partners in the zone included
one-day educational experience.
careers event in Bolton. (www.makeit.org.uk) is a
Aegis Tailored Protection,
The students, aged 13 to 14,
And girls, who account for less campaign led by the
Aircelle, BAE Systems,
participated in a range of
than 3% of the country’s Manufacturing Institute and its
Chemicals Northwest, Cogent,
interactive activities designed to
engineering apprentices, industry partners to encourage the
MBDA, McBride, Northwest
help them think about the impact
witnessed the range of interesting next generation of talent to
Aerospace Alliance, Optare,
science and engineering have on
their daily lives.
and exciting opportunities consider careers in industry.
Unison Engine Components and
‘Enthuse’, which is part of
available to both boys and girls. The Make It team gave the
the University of Manchester
npower’s Brighter Futures
According the the government, young visitors a chance to have a Aerospace Research Institute.
Programme, is a five-year scheme
quality jobs in the future will go at hands-on activities, Skills NorthWest (www.skills
to inspire and engage students
come from a renaissance in including taking a 3D journey nw.co.uk) is the region’s largest
aged 12–14 in science, technology,
manufacturing and the expansion through a jet engine, then interactive skills and careers fair
engineering and maths.
of knowledge-based industries designing an engine and testing its for 14–19 year olds in a bid to
such as engineering. performance in virtual flight; inspire young people’s careers..
Circle No.E15
Technology in Education No.165 March 2009 32 Check out our website: www.technology-in-education.co.uk
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