We’re proud to announce a groundbreaking five-year partnership with EngineeringUK aimed at improving access to high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) experiences for secondary school students across the UK. This initiative represents a significant investment in the future workforce and a commitment to tackling the persistent skills gap in engineering and technology.
Why this work matters and what we’re doing
STEM careers are critical to the UK economy, yet many young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, face barriers to sustained engagement with these subjects. Sporadic, one-off events often fail to create lasting impact. Our joint initiative with EngineeringUK seeks to change that by embedding a culture of continuous STEM engagement in schools, ensuring students from Year 7 through Year 11 have consistent opportunities to explore and develop their interest in STEM.
By working with expert partner, EngineeringUK we are going to build on the work that they already offer schools by funding multi-year expert support which will bolster the offer they already have and allow schools to deliver even more meaningful, inspirational STEM experiences. Amanda Aldercotte, Head of Evaluation and Impact at EngineeringUK said: ‘We want to support schools in offering all students access to meaningful STEM experiences that support their aspirations and future career. We hope this will improve these young people’s access to high-demand STEM careers with higher salaries and increased opportunities for progression and employment.’
Some of the activities will include:
- Hands-on STEM projects and workshops via platforms like Neon.
- School trips to major STEM events, such as The Big Bang Fair.
- Curriculum-linked lessons addressing real-world challenges like climate change.
- Extra-curricular STEM clubs fostering creativity and teamwork.
- Career talks and case studies from professionals in engineering and technology.
By targeting diverse demographics, we aim to reach students from economically and geographically disadvantaged areas and those underrepresented in STEM sectors.
Our Commitment
Speaking about our commitment to this work, Polly Rowe, our Head of Foundation Programmes and Engagement at City & Guilds Foundation, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative focused on pupils facing economic and geographical disadvantages over a longer period of time. Inspiring children to engage with STEM activities during secondary education will improve academic outcomes and unlock life-changing opportunities, while helping to address the acute skills shortage in the UK STEM sector.”
The project will be rigorously evaluated over five years, tracking how participating students’ educational choices and career aspirations differ from those in schools without this support. These insights will inform future investment strategies and help funders and educators embed STEM engagement effectively. We’re really looking forward to following the journeys of the young people we engage with and seeing the difference that this programme makes. To find out more about EngineeringUK click here: www.engineeringuk.com