My first day of work was on my 22nd birthday. I remember taking the tube during rush hour and arriving at swanky offices, ready to be an engineer.
Ever since that day, I have always loved what I do. The last 11 years of my career have involved working with people, solving problems creatively and seeing the real product of my designs.
But sadly this is an experience that is not being shared by enough young people. Despite the fantastic and rewarding careers engineering and other roles in STEM offer, not enough young people are choosing this path.
It’s a challenge that is only set to grow. 7.1 million UK jobs will rely on science skills by 2030 – a 1.3 million increase on today’s number. The world is becoming more tech and digital focused, with a higher premium put on numerical and analytical skills.
This, coupled with the fact that over half of UK businesses expect difficulty in recruiting STEM-skilled staff over the next three years, means we could be faced with a ticking time bomb for the UK’s economy. How are we going to face up to these challenges if we aren’t attracting the right people?
If we are to succeed, we need to start young. The Your Life campaign, for which I’m a representative, aims to get more young people studying mathematics and physics.
This year they produced a report in conjunction with AT Kearney called Tough Choices, which tells us that when children enter secondary schools, 74% of them enjoy and are interested in science. Yet as these students progress through school, this interest wanes. These subjects are commonly perceived to be restricted to the extremely academic and bright. By not choosing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects at A level, we have ended up with a limited talent pipeline for businesses to recruit from.
7.1 million UK jobs will rely on science skills by 2030 – a 1.3 million increase on today’s number
Despite the rising number of jobs available in the sector, over two thirds (67%) of young people don’t feel these subjects are relevant to many careers.
However, according to a survey from Your Life carried out by Census Wide, five of the careers most desired by young people were actually STEM based; nearly a third were interested in undertaking a career in gaming and nearly a fifth in an IT career. So they are not making the link between what they are interested in and the subjects they will need to get them there.
This lack of understanding on the part of young people is understandable, given over half have never interacted with a STEM employer or further education provider. Interacting with employers is vitally important for young people’s development.
The Tough Choices report also suggested a direct correlation between young people meeting STEM employers and taking these subjects at A level. At Interserve, where I work, we aim to provide 1,000 work experience placements every year because of our strong belief that being exposed to the workplace really inspires students in their career choices.
Equipping teachers with knowledge of STEM careers will give young people a better understanding of the importance of STEM qualifications.
Businesses also have a key role in helping to inform teachers about the skills young people will need to achieve in a rapidly changing world. Your Life’s ‘Best School Trip’ involves taking young people from schools into STEM businesses round the country and delivers real results. In feedback from these trips, 84% of attendees say they would now consider doing mathematics A level, with 74% saying they would do physics. Schools need businesses to be willing and able to open their doors to young people. In opening their doors, they can open young people’s eyes to the future pathways currently hidden from them.
Equipping teachers with knowledge of STEM careers will give young people a better understanding of the importance of STEM qualifications.
Collaboration like this is the best way we can achieve lasting change for young people and ensure we close the persistent STEM skills gap that hampers business growth and our economy today.
For more information on how you can get involved or book a Best School Trip to help inspire young people into STEM, contact the Your Life team.
About the author:
Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer who spent six years working on The Shard, has been described by The Telegraph as "the new voice of women talking about science and engineering and making it cool”. A multiple award winner, she has appeared as an expert in documentaries, in UK broadsheets and magazines; on the BBC and ITV. Roma has given TEDx talks about engineering, and was selected as a ‘Leading Lady’ in the 2014 Marks and Spencer's campaign.
Outside work, she actively promotes engineering, scientific and technical careers to young people, in particular to under-represented groups such as women. She is currently writing a book called ‘Building Storeys’ (2018, Bloomsbury) which will showcase the amazing people and challenges which have been solved through history to create our modern world.
Find out more at www.RomaTheEngineer.com and @RomaTheEngineer.