Cobham-Ultra STEMCrew Roadshows Impact Report 2024 released
The 1851 Trust and Athena Pathway in collaboration with Cobham and Ultra Electronics (Ultra), have released the Cobham-Ultra STEMCrew Roadshows Impact Report 2024.
Image courtesy Cobham-Ultra
This report highlights the roadshow’s success, with 98% of participating students expressing an increased interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers following the events. This demonstrates the importance of initiatives addressing the UK’s STEM skills shortage, which is anticipated to cost the economy up to £120 billion by 2030.
The comprehensive report details the significant outcomes and wide-reaching impact of the roadshow, with the organisers now wanting to work with the government and its Industrial Strategy Advisory Council to facilitate partnerships between the private sector and educators that encourage Key Stage 3 children to consider STEM careers. Ensuring we have enough STEM educated future innovators is critical to drive economic growth and support the UK to meet its net zero goals.
Fronted by Athena Pathway’s principal, double Olympic Gold medallist Hannah Mills OBE, the roadshows delivered engaging and interactive sessions, students were inspired by real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and math inspired by the Athena Pathway America’s Cup sailing team. The day was designed to inspire young people, challenge stereotypes, and empower them to make informed career choices. The roadshows were delivered by the 1851 Trust, who harness the power of sport to inspire the next generation of problem solvers, providing free digital STEM and climate education programmes linking science to real world challenges that make STEM accessible to all.
Engaging more than five hundred students across London, York, Southampton, and Oxford, these findings underline the crucial role that programmes like the roadshows play in inspiring a diverse and skilled workforce for the future economy. This aligns with recent research by EngineeringUK, which shows that students who participate in one or more STEM career activities are over three times more likely to consider a career in engineering. This partnership highlights the benefits of engaging young people from 11-14 during this crucial period before GCSE’s, which is critical to ensuring students choose subjects that allow them to follow a STEM pathway for the future.
These sessions mark a major step towards addressing the challenges facing the UK’s workforce and supporting national economic growth. Engineering and technology jobs are expected to grow faster than any other sector by 2030, yet the UK STEM sector is projected to face a shortfall of around 173,000 workers. Initiatives like the STEM Roadshow are essential in bridging these gaps and promoting a more inclusive and skilled workforce. That is why the organisers are urging further government support for STEM activities going forward.
“Bringing STEM education directly to students through real-world applications and interactive experiences has the power to ignite interest and confidence in fields they may not have considered before,” said Athena Pathway women’s team principal and double Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills OBE. “Our impact report demonstrates that access to quality STEM education can open doors and inspire passion.”
Shonnel Malani, Chairman of the Board of Cobham and Ultra Electronics, stated: “We are proud of the strides our collaboration with Athena Pathway and 1851 Trust has made in inspiring young people to explore STEM subjects. These grassroots events represent an essential next step in addressing the UK’s STEM talent shortage and motivating British school children to develop valuable STEM skills, so we would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with government on scaling up opportunities like this.”
Jo Grindley, CEO of the 1851 Trust said: “We have been really pleased at the positive impact the roadshows showed for all the students that joined us, and how sport can inspire. Our sessions focus on problem-solving solving, critical thinking and teamwork, with hands on learning using the power of sport to create real world context that they relate to and understand. It’s critical for our economic and climate goals that as many students as possible realise that they can enjoy success and thrive in a STEM career and become the innovators of the future”.
The full impact (pdf) report is available for download.