The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has started a campaign to plug the technology skills gap in the UK.
The professional body has invited science-related businesses to sponsor a school in its region and be part of the initiative to attract more students into engineering.
The sponsorship will be used to run Faraday Challenge Days, which are hands-on activities run in schools throughout the UK.
“They give 12 and 13 year olds the chance to find out about exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths through practical challenges and interactive learning,” said the IET.
The IET said that a lack of corporate sponsorship is limiting the number of schools which can take part in the Faraday Programme in 2010.
According to the IET, the shortage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) degrees is due in part to a lack of interest in STEM subjects amongst school children.
“We are already running the scheme in hundreds of UK schools with brilliant results. But this is the first time we’ve invited every UK science business to get behind it so we can reach even more young people,” said Gareth James, Head of Education at the IET.
“Getting more schools to participate in positive, engaging schemes such as the Faraday Challenge will help to turn around the UK engineering skills shortage,” said James.
“If every school in the UK took part the skills shortage could be reversed in under 9 years,” he added.
The IET is offering businesses the chance to make a connection with a school in their region. It only costs an average of only £37 per child who takes part in the Faraday Challenge.
The Faraday scheme is a great way for businesses to develop closer links with a school in their region. Businesses can sponsor the Faraday Challenge for as little as £3,000.
The IET Faraday Challenge Days will be running in hundreds of schools across the UK from October.