STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) industries are key to inspiring roles of the future and in partnership with Your Future Your Ambition are helping to set the digital stage

Leading STEAM organisations such as VISA, P&G, Adobe, GSK, Royal Navy and many more have joined forces with Your Future Your Ambition (YFYA) to make STEAM careers more visible and accessible to students from ages 7 to 23+. On 12th November, YFYA will host its 9th annual event virtually and is free to attend for students and schools.

The gap in STEAM talent in the UK is not reducing at the rate of pace required to significantly meet the skills requirements of an increasingly global and tech driven jobs market. Since its first event in 2012, YFYA has created a link between leading STEAM organisations, educational establishments and young people providing access to industry professionals and role models, to showcase the plethora of opportunities that arise from STEAM career paths. These organisations realise that embracing diversity and making STEAM careers more accessible and inclusive is key to creating a sustainable workforce of the future and bridging the STEAM skills gap. This requires engaging the younger generation from early years upwards to university or other vocational paths through events like YFYA which encourage aspiration and diversity in STEAM based career paths.

2020 has been turbulent not least for young learners. COVID-19 has accelerated change in how they learn as the World Economic Forum* (WEF) states ‘COVID-19 has become a catalyst for educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions’ making classrooms and lectures outmoded. The pandemic coincides with a realisation that what they learn needs to reflect a changing future job market and along with a heightened awareness of climate change, STEAM offers Gen Z and Alpha a springboard to careers we cannot even define as yet.

This year’s YFYA theme, Creating a Sustainable Tomorrow is apt for their first virtual event, with the normalisation of digital learning and remote working, participating companies can live stream activities and workshops about STEAM into more classrooms and homes around the country; truly inclusive and of the future.

Employers like GSK, a long-standing partner is already reaching out to young STEAM talent and supporting teachers during COVID-19 with their STEM education channel www.gskstemeducation.com.

Adobe another YFYA partner, will be using innovative technology to bring a futuristic and engaging learning experience to students, Vijay Sansanwal, EMEA Program Manager and UK Social Impact Volunteering Lead says ” At Adobe, we believe Creativity is the catalyst for positive change. We wish to inspire creativity in students who want to make a meaningful impact on their futures. Your Future, Your Ambition is an important partnership for Adobe in supporting and inspiring 1000+ young students (7 to 23 yrs) from all backgrounds into pursuing STEAM careers. Supporting events such as YFYA are central to Adobe’s strategy in enabling the next generation to create their stories, express themselves and develop skills that are in high demand in our dynamically changing world.”

YFYA is embracing digital transformation and working with organisations to make 2020’s annual event impactful.
With COVID-19 disruptors to education and the call for ‘viable’ future careers gathering strength, it’s paramount for more STEAM organisations offering these viable career options, to join those already partnering with initiatives like YFYA in inspiring our future engineers, scientists, technologists, healthcare professionals and designers.

For students, schools and universities facing uncertain times, it’s important to leverage the opportunities that YFYA provide.

For more information or if you are a company and would like to be involved visit www.yfya.co.uk or email [email protected].