More than 35 employers, universities and organisations will take part in the MK Innovates STEM Festival in Milton Keynes this month, with a new work experience initiative among the activities designed to encourage more women and young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
Organised by Women Leaders UK, the two-day event returns to Middleton Hall at centre on October 20-21, bringing together businesses, education providers and prospective employees to explore opportunities in the city’s growing technology sector.
The festival will focus on career opportunities for women on its opening day, followed by a programme for schools that will include the launch of Career Safari, a pilot initiative giving Year 9 students experience of workplace challenges.
The event follows MK Tech Week and comes as Milton Keynes looks to strengthen its position within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. The city is home to more than 2,400 technology companies, but attracting and developing the workforce needed to support further growth remains a challenge.
Women account for just 17% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce, highlighting the importance of widening access to careers in these industries.
Susan Izadkhasti, trustee of Women Leaders UK and lead for the MK Innovates STEM Festival, said: “Milton Keynes has huge ambitions as a technology and innovation city. MK Tech Week will showcase many of the businesses, technologies and ideas driving that growth, while MK Innovates focuses on something equally important – the people who will help deliver it.
“We cannot talk about becoming part of the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley while overlooking such a significant proportion of the potential talent available to us. We need more women entering, returning to and progressing within STEM careers, and we need girls to grow up seeing these industries as places where they can succeed.”
The opening day, Tuesday October 20, will be open to the public, with particular emphasis on women considering a career change, returning to employment or looking to progress within STEM.
Visitors will be able to meet employers, discuss vacancies and career pathways, receive CV and interview advice and speak to women already working in science, engineering and technology.
Organisations taking part include NHBC, NatWest, HORIBA UK, Red Bull Racing Technology, Anglian Water, Network Rail, Tesla, The Open University and Cranfield University.
The festival is supported by Milton Keynes Community Foundation, with HMGCC as platinum sponsor and Niftylift as gold sponsor.
“There isn’t one route into STEM and these careers aren’t only for people who made that decision at school or university,” Susan said. “Someone may be returning to work, looking for their next move or considering a completely different career.
“Being able to talk directly to employers and meet women already working in these industries can help turn something that perhaps felt out of reach into a genuine career possibility.”
On Wednesday October 21, the festival will welcome participating schools for a programme of practical activities, demonstrations and employer engagement.
A new addition this year is Career Safari, which will place Year 9 students in small teams to tackle challenges set by employers. During 45-minute sessions, students will work through problems, make decisions and present their ideas to industry professionals.
The pilot aims to give young people a more practical understanding of the skills used in the workplace while providing employers with an opportunity to engage with potential future recruits.
“If we want young people to consider careers in STEM, we have to do more than tell them these jobs exist,” Susan said.
“Career Safari gives students the chance to experience elements of the workplace for themselves – working together, tackling a genuine challenge and interacting with people from industry.
“Milton Keynes will need the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists, innovators and problem-solvers. Helping young people understand that they could be part of that future is where the talent pipeline starts.”
The MK Innovates STEM Festival takes place at Middleton Hall, centre, on October 20-21. The opening day is free to attend and open to the public, while the second day is reserved for participating schools.
