A leading educational charity is challenging companies to help engage secondary school students with careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
At a recent parliamentary briefing Dr Gordon Mizner, chief executive of EDT, a UK provider of educational programmes involving industry/education links, called for greater support in helping young people make informed decisions about potential careers in STEM subjects.
Pointing out key career defining decisions are made between the ages of 11 and 16, Dr Mizner said, "We need to make it possible for young people in this age group to engage with positive and relevant role models in STEM careers if we are to help them make the link from ‘doing' science and engineering to ‘being' a scientist or engineer."
EDT engages 30,000 students each year in programmes that give them insights into STEM careers but Dr Mizner says that more needs to be done to deliver the scientists and engineers that the UK requires in the future: "EDT has the aspiration to double the number of students that it engages with each year and we would like to go even further than that if provided with the right backing. We need to be working much more extensively with students of all abilities and backgrounds. Our programmes genuinely inspire students to fulfil their potential, engaging them to be the next generation of apprentices and graduates.
"We need companies to work with us, providing mentors, role models and other support to enable these young people make informed career decisions and so help develop the future human resource for a vibrant, high value UK engineering, science and manufacturing sector."
To find out more and to make contact with EDT visit www.etrust.org.uk