Get young people interested in STEM careers early

On behalf of business in the county, I feel I must give a big shout-out for the team behind the Cotswold and Swindon Challenge 2021.

This is an extremely innovative idea-first launched during the COVID lockdown of 2020 to help year 11,12 and 13 students missing out on exams.

And this year, the team invited students from the Swindon area as well to contribute their artwork, photographs, poems, stories, inventions and business ideas.

For me, the key aspect of the Challenge is to encourage our talented young people to innovate and start thinking about their future careers.

And a note from one of the team - designer Nigel Chute of Chute Design in Cirencester - reminded me of another successful idea for young people in the area – Festomane - the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering.

Festomane was the brainchild of former Stroud MP, Neil Carmichael.

The event I attended in Stroud some years ago was amazing. 

Primary school students as young as eight and nine - girls as well as boys - were captivated by how things worked (not just the free pens!).

Going back to 2017, Festomane was well supported financially by Stroud District Council and local companies.

Now, more than ever before, we need more initiatives like the Challenge and Festomane.

We need to encourage the study of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). Parents and schools must also play their part too.

I am not alone in thinking that in the UK we need to take a leaf out of our German friends’ career book.

There, young people at primary school age are actively encouraged to become interested in manufacturing and engineering.

Here, there is little encouragement on future career interests - particularly in STEM subjects - during their last period at primary school.

So, by the time they reach secondary school few students have a clear idea on future careers.

The Challenge is an idea that business and our local councils need to encourage for our young people who are still leaving the county at an alarming rate.

Well done to the Challenge team of Nigel Chute, Allison Murray of Allison Murray Design, freelance writer Chris Roberts and Fiona Scott of Fiona Scott Media. 

Young people are our future and the more help we can give them the better.