FORMULA ONE world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has launched a scheme to boost the number of black teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

The project arises from the Hamilton Commission report addressing the lack of diversity in UK motorsport. Hamilton said the scheme “focuses on identifying the best way to attract black talent to STEM teaching roles”.

A two-year programme, in partnership with education charity Teach First, is to pilot a range of new approaches to identify best practices when recruiting black STEM teachers. The project aims to support the recruitment and training of 150 black STEM teachers in schools that serve disadvantaged communities in England.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton said: “We know representation and role models are important across all aspects of society, but especially when it comes to supporting young people’s development.”

Last year Hamilton insisted Formula One needed to be more representative of BAME communities, adding: “It’s not enough to point to me, or to a single new black hire, as a meaningful example of progress.”

The Hamilton Commission, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, is also working towards making motorsport “as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in”.

The Mercedes driver said it would explore how the sport can be used to engage “more young people from black backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and, ultimately, employ them on our teams or in other engineering sectors”.

He added: “When I look back in 20 years, I want to see the sport that gave a shy, working-class black kid from Stevenage so much opportunity, become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in.”

Hamilton’s newly launched Mission 44 initiative takes into account research conducted by The Hamilton Commission, which found that young, Black people face a wide range of societal barriers which prevent them from realising their full potential.

Mission 44 is committed to directly addressing some of these issues, but it also understands the need to support other underrepresented groups who are at risk of being left behind. Many young people across wider society suffer from under representation, discrimination or disadvantage and Mission 44 will work to collaborate with, fund or set up programmes to help address a range of issues which affect future generations. It is his belief that all young people, no matter their background, should be empowered to dream the impossible.

To create a strong and strategic focus to its work, Mission 44 will tie its projects to the three pillars:

●       Representation:Shine a spotlight on the experiences of young people from underrepresented groups, supporting their access to, and progress in, spaces, professions and sectors that historically have poor levels of diversity.

●       Progression: Through programmes, advocacy and research, Mission 44 will support the development of better pathways for underrepresented young people across all aspects of society to achieve and thrive, with a focus on those most at risk of being left behind.

●       Empowerment: Work with young people and a wide range of organisations to support initiatives that amplify the voices of young people from underrepresented groups to influence decision-making and support them to take action on social causes they are passionate about.