STEAM WITH NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

Written by Ayan Said, Project Manager – Education and Mentoring Works (STEAM)

At ELBA we are committed to nurturing and activating the next leaders in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM).

The importance of STEAM is greater now than ever. There is a great need for a diversity of role models – many marginalised groups are unable to access prosperous paths and opportunities, and there is not enough awareness of the opportunities that are available in a homogenous societal culture. Although jobs in these areas make up around 20% of the UK workforce, Black and Minority ethnic groups are not well represented in them. The disparities in STEAM industries start at school age and carry on into the workforce, causing systemic gaps in which people from disadvantaged backgrounds are being left behind in the fourth industrial revolution. We are losing out on the significant contribution and value a diverse workspace can bring, and our youth needs us to address this, to help to reduce inequality and work towards great diversity in STEAM.

Addressing the complex issues of inequality and a lack of diversity does not happen overnight, but through our STEAM Mentoring programme we are co-creating foundations of prosperity with our corporate partners through direct mentoring, site visits and workshops.

We hope to equip 75 young people over the course of two years with confidence, resources and skills that will allow them to see themselves in these STEAM roles, and indeed to foster in them a belief that they can achieve big things if they try.

The programme aims to build a passion for lifelong learning that is intercultural, intergenerational and gives our beneficiaries and volunteers the chance to exchange life experiences that can shape the future of work and the way in which we build purpose-driven businesses.

These last few years we have seen our reliance on STEAM skyrocket, with the trend looking set to continue, which is why this programme is vital.

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