More funding and a STEM careers strategy needed

Our new report ‘Advancing STEM careers provision in England: Key lessons and opportunities’ looks at challenges to careers provision. 

Time constraints and funding are very real issues, as conveyed by one respondent to our survey of teachers and career leaders: ‘We could do more if teachers had more time, and if it fitted with the curriculum. There's a lot that falls between the gaps - for example, engineering - is it the responsibility of maths, science or DT? We used to have a STEM coordinator, which worked well, but the funding fell away.’ 

We need a more strategic approach to careers provision in schools and colleges in England and for greater investment in the careers system and infrastructure. Our report insights are crucial to ensuring STEM careers provision is robust and inclusive, aligning with the government’s strategic approach to skilling the next generation. 

 Report recommendations to the government:    

Publishes a new long-term careers strategy for England with sufficient funding attached to enable schools and colleges to bring it to life 

Embeds careers into the subject content of the STEM curriculum and ensures that it highlights the diverse range of roles and people working in science, technology and engineering 

Ensures that careers advisers have the continuous professional development (CPD) necessary to have, and be able to convey, up-to-date knowledge of modern engineering and technology careers 

Develops a work experience strategy that links into and sits alongside a wider careers strategy 

Adopt an inclusive whole-school approach to careers provision led and guided by the careers leader 

Adopt a targeted approach to STEM careers provision 

Draw on support from their local Careers Hub to more consistently link their careers programmes with local and national labour market information and the connection with future career opportunities 

We ask that STEM employers 

 
8. Continue to build out their engagement activities aimed at young people in KS3 alongside an improved offer of work experience opportunities 

We ask that Career Hubs 

9. Focus on recruiting more local STEM employers to complete the Employer Standards and get actively involved in programmes such as Equalex and Teacher Encounters. 

EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Dr Hilary Leevers, commented: “Our report arrives at a pivotal moment when the demand for STEM skills is growing, and the new government is developing its approach to meet these needs. It offers insights and recommendations to enhance STEM careers provision in schools and colleges in England and provide students with a solid understanding of STEM careers. 

“The government must take a more strategic approach to STEM education and skills. This includes greater investment in the careers system to realise the full potential of the billions of pounds invested in education and training. Young people need to be able to make the connection between their studies and their future careers.”  

This report is the third in a series exploring STEM careers provision in England, following the “Our careers, our future: STEM careers provision and young people”  published in 2020 and "Securing the future: careers provision in schools and colleges in England" report published in 2021.