The government has been urged to invest £40 million to improve advice on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers in schools and colleges in England.
A new report from EngineeringUK highlights the added difficulties presented by the pandemic in connecting young people with employers in sectors such as utilities.
It found that 76 per cent of careers leaders and STEM teachers believe it has become more difficult to engage with employers since the start of the pandemic, with many saying careers activities have been put on hold because of time pressures. The report also identified a “digital divide” affecting access to STEM careers activities, particularly in poorer areas.
The report recommends pumping fresh funds into the promotion of STEM careers, including better resources and a digital learning strategy.
It survey suggested that schools and colleges in careers hub areas are faring better on some aspects of STEM careers provision than those not in hubs. For example, 83 per cent said they delivered work experience with STEM employers at least once in a typical year and 80 per cent said their pupils received at least one STEM employer encounter every year. This compares to 60 per cent and 53 per cent respectively among schools and colleges not in careers hubs.
EngineeringUK is also calling for a greater focus on diversity in the sector, citing a lack of role models as a barrier to reaching young people. Almost half (46 per cent) of its survey respondents said this was a barrier to accessing careers provision for girls, with 38 per cent saying the same about pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and 33 per about those from lower socio-economic backgrounds
Energy & Utilities Skills
Meanwhile, the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership has published a progress report one year after the launch of its Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy 2020-2025.
The strategy includes six key aims, including embedding outreach programmes in schools and colleges to showcase utilities career pathways.
Currently only 8 per cent per cent of the 586,800 employees in the energy and utilities sector are between the ages 16-24.
The partnership is currently working with the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to establish a sector view of the impact of outreach programmes currently in operation and the geographical coverage. It is also setting up benchmarks to see how many encounters the sector workforce are making with schools and colleges and where this is happening. There will also be a focus on the number of workplace experiences that can be offered to young people.
The report also updates on its commitment to increase diversity in the sector. There are now 48 sector employers signed up to the Energy & Utilities Inclusion Commitment and a sector inclusion measurement framework has been launched with 28 participating employers.
Phil Beach, chief executive of Energy & Utility Skills, said: “The launch of the strategy last year coincided with the coronavirus pandemic and the sector should be proud of the progress we’ve made in the first year. We’ve made a strong start and today’s report clearly shows that we are moving in the right direction. Energy and utilities companies are at the forefront of delivering the UK government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, and we’re all committed to achieve net zero carbon targets in 2050, as well as tackling the range of issues presented by the climate emergency. There is clearly more to do, and we are determined to attract, recruit, and develop a diverse workforce to fill the existing and emerging jobs.”
The full progress report can be accessed here.
Sustainability First
In a bid to inspire young people to play their part in the fight against climate change, Sustainability First has launched a pilot series of workshop materials and activities for primary schools.
Workshop activities are linked to the National Curriculums for England and Wales, and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland and are targeted at Key Stage 2 and Second Level pupils, although they can also be adapted for younger and older pupils. They combine lessons and tasks on art, science, geography, literacy, social justice and citizenship.
These online workshops are being delivered in collaboration with the Great Science Share for Schools programme centred on the climate emergency, as part of Sustainability First’s work with National Grid in the build-up to COP26. The materials are free to download and include art, storytelling and letter writing activities. They cover waste, protecting our changing world and the wonders of water – and will end with a pupils’ assembly.
Sustainability First director Sharon Darcy said: “Many utility companies already do great educational outreach work with schools. Taking a cross-sector approach, and using artistic and creative approaches, can help with behaviour change and reinforce the message that we all need to work together if we are to deliver a fair climate future.”
The materials can be downloaded here