SKILLS JANUARY 2019
modern engineering tools.
Snelson also received great
feedback from the children who
attended. He says: “They loved
the ‘micro bit’ programming,
using the hand tools to make
the casing for their e-pets,
using Computer Aided Design
(CAD) to then plastic printing
components. They also really
enjoyed designing and racing
their rocket cars.”
engineering in a way they had
never heard them speak about
following a normal school day.”
MCMT aim to “connect
the dots” between children in
primary school activities, to
young adults completing higher
apprenticeships. It seems to
be progressing well with this
vision, continuously working
with new companies and
schools to spread their message.
Air Products’
Space Camp has
proven a success
at inspiring kids
into STEM
“Inspiring young people and giving
them access to positive role models
should be a priority for all businesses”
Lynn Willacy, community and STEM ambassador, Air Products
The difference made
A real impact is shown when
we look at what the children
from the camps are doing
now. Snelson says: “From the
older Kids’ Club, covering 14
to 16-year-olds, one of the
attendees has already applied
to be an apprentice at the Marches Centre of
Manufacturing and Technology. From the younger
age group of 9-13, nearly all are talking of taking
up STEM-focused subjects and, where available,
Design and Technology is firmly on their agenda.”
Willacy also says, in regard to the children
who attended Space Camp, “our objective was to
inspire them to take STEM subjects when they
choose their GCSE options at the end of Year 9.
“One of the female students had always wanted
to be an astronaut and now believes it’s possible.
Thanks to the advice she received at Space Camp,
she now understands which subjects she needs to
focus on to realise her dream.
“On the last night of the Camp we did a poll of
which STEM subjects the students loved the most,
and the noise created when they voted for Science
was probably heard in space!”
A recent study by Barclays bank found that
within 16-23-year-olds, too old to have attended
any of the kids clubs, that only 6% of want to go
into manufacturing, with almost half (47%) having
stated that this is because the career path does
not appeal to them, or they do not believe they
have the skills required (35%) for the role.
However, as the success of the kids’ clubs
at manufacturers up and down the country
demonstrate, if you engage with young people
early on, it is possible to change opinions and
begin the hard job of closing the skills gap.
While Snelson doesn’t believe
the skills gap is closing just yet,
he recognises that the hard work
MCMT is doing seems to be
causing a change in perception.
“Parents were amazed at
how much their kids came
home buzzing, talking about
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