A new initiative launching at the Science and Industry Museum this month will tackle the STEM skills shortage which costs UK businesses around £1.5 billion per year.
The Science Museum Group Academy, which launches on 18 March, will provide training and resources for teachers to support STEM learning outside a classroom environment.
The aim is to encourage more young people into STEM careers in order to fill roles such as the 700,000 additional STEM technicians the Gatsby Charitable Foundation estimate will be needed to meet demand within a decade.
From its two sites, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and the Science Museum in London, the Academy will provide free courses for primary and secondary teachers, made possible by funding support from BP.
Susan Raikes, Director of Learning for the Science Museum Group, said: “Helping more people find meaning and relevance in science is at the heart of the Science Museum Group’s mission to inspire futures. The Academy’s vital work – which is only possible thanks to BP’s support, is a critical part of this mission. Each STEM practitioner supported by the Academy will gain the tools to create incredible science engagement opportunities for a much wider audience, helping to address the challenges of low engagement with science across the UK.”
Peter Mather, Group Regional President, Europe and Head of Country, UK at BP, said: “Continuing BP’s 50 years of support for STEM education in the UK, we are delighted to be working with the Science Museum Group to build deeper engagement across the UK with the STEM subjects. As we make the transition to a lower carbon future, the STEM skills essential for our future sustainability are in scarce supply. Our work with schools, communities, families and teachers has an important role to play in helping to maintain and grow the talent needed for our shared future.”
