Engineering a strong STEM provision

Strong STEM provision with practical hands-on lessons is vital to help pupils connect what they learn at school and how it could shape the world. Rebecca Healy, careers inspiration manager at EngineeringUK, explores how this can be achieved.

Young people who participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers activities and work experiences are understandably, more likely to be interested in engineering careers. But too few young people fully understand what engineers, scientists and technicians do, the fantastic prospects, and above average salaries on offer. There’s so much more to the sector than ‘bridges and hi-vis jackets.’ “You can’t be what you can’t see” feels very relevant here.  

Engineering and tech has a wide range of careers due to the breadth of industries, and employs 6.3 million people in the UK, accounting for 19 per cent of all jobs. But there is a huge skills and labour shortage, and between now and 2030, engineering and tech jobs are expected to grow more than any other sector.

We need more young people to realise there could be a future for them in those careers and this starts by getting more young people excited and enthused by STEM and the earlier that starts, the better. Recent research by STEM charity EngineeringUK and the Royal Society also tells us that making the link between STEM careers and the ways in which they benefit society is a crucial motivating factor, especially for girls, who are woefully underrepresented in the subjects and technical and vocational pathways that lead into engineering. 

Educating and inspiring young people that all sorts of skills are needed, from creative skills to problem solving, is also key. There are lots of entry routes in too, which lead on from apprenticeships to T Levels as well as university.  

EngineeringUK drives change with the goal of creating a diverse engineering and tech workforce of tomorrow. We aim to inspire and enable young people to see STEM as a career of choice for them, through our range of programmes and wide range of resources accessible to teachers, careers leaders, as well as industry, all of which promote rewarding careers in engineering and technology. 

STEM careers provision

Our recent report ‘Advancing STEM careers provision in England’, looked at the current STEM careers provision landscape in schools and colleges across England. Almost 200 teachers and those in career-related roles in schools were surveyed. Time constraints and funding were highlighted as very real issues. Over a third (36 per cent) said the lack of funding meant that they were unable to support STEM work experience in their school, while 33 per cent cited a lack of capacity to engage more with STEM employers. Worryingly, the report shows a quarter of Careers Leaders are being allocated less than one day a week to fulfil their roles.  

It is clear we need a more strategic approach to careers provision in schools and colleges in England and for greater investment in the careers system and infrastructure.  

‘Advancing STEM careers provision in England’ makes some realistic recommendations above all calling on the government to publish a sufficiently funded long-term careers strategy, with a work experience strategy running alongside it to help young people understand the many, diverse, personally fulfilling and rewarding opportunities a STEM career holds.  

Report recommendations 

The ‘Advancing STEM careers provision in England’ report makes a number of recommendations to the government, including implementing a new long-term careers strategy for England with sufficient funding attached to enable schools and colleges to bring it to life.

It also calls for the embedding of careers into the subject content of the STEM curriculum and ensuring that it highlights the diverse range of roles and people working in science, technology and engineering.

The report also says that careers advisers should have the continuous professional development (CPD) necessary to have, and be able to convey, up-to-date knowledge of modern engineering and technology careers. 

Developing a work experience strategy that links into and sits alongside a wider careers strategy, as well as adopting an inclusive whole-school approach to careers provision led and guided by the careers leader, are also measures that have been recommended.

The report also recommends that a targeted approach to STEM careers provision is adopted, and to draw on support from local Careers Hubs to more consistently link their careers programmes with local and national labour market information and the connection with future career opportunities 

STEM employers

EngineeringUK asks that STEM employers continue to build out their engagement activities aimed at young people in Key Stage 3 alongside an improved offer of work experience opportunities.

What’s more, they ask that Career Hubs focus on recruiting more local STEM employers to complete the Employer Standards and get actively involved in programmes such as Equalex and Teacher Encounters. 

EngineeringUK has recently launched a new brand – EUK Education to make it quick and easy for schools to access high quality STEM careers inspiration.

EUK Education – the new go to place for STEM education and career needs  

EUK Education brings together in one place everything STEM charity EngineeringUK does for teachers and career leaders, to help them inspire and engage young people – the engineering and tech professionals of the future. You may already be familiar with The Big Bang Fair, Climate Schools Programme or our annual campaign, Tomorrow’s Engineers Week.  

Many young people don’t know what engineers do. EUK Education hopes to change that so they can see how what they learn at school shapes the world we live in. The website is loaded with quality curriculum-linked programmes, lesson plans and resources, accessible funding, engaging activities plus high-quality science, engineering and technology careers inspiration, including motivating role models. 

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week

A good way to ignite student’s interest in STEM is to take part in Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, which this year took place 11-15 November. 

The Week offers a flexible and inspiring way for students to discover how their passions can lead to a fulfilling career in engineering and technology. More than an annual campaign; it’s a vibrant celebration of engineering careers. Now in its 12th year, this event, led by EngineeringUK unites schools, employers, professional engineering institutions and people working in engineering and technology to bring diverse career paths to life for young people.