Initially launched in April 2021, funded by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) the dynamic initiative welcomed Equate Scotland and Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) on board. Equate have been busy engaging with employers and apprentices and YES have delivered engagement activities in secondary schools in Renfrewshire and Forth Valley.
During February and March 2022, YES ran eight virtual STEM workshops (four in Renfrewshire and four in Forth Valley) for S5 and S6 pupils. The workshops were interactive, with guest speakers from STEM related sectors. The overall purpose was to raise awareness and encourage the pupils to create marketing messages to help their peer group consider STEM subjects and career pathways with confidence.
The sessions culminated in an online ‘Women into STEM’ showcase and schools involved included: Trinity High School and Paisley Grammar School in Renfrewshire and Braes High School in Forth Valley – whose fantastic and thought provoking STEM Marketing Campaigns will be available on the new landing page.
The Women into STEM Project – which will run to 31 march 2023 - has been working with Equate Scotland to work with stakeholders, employers and partners to develop awareness, access, and participation for young women to thrive within STEM activities and pathways. The initiative also hopes to develop sustainable Apprenticeship Pathways, and recruit, prepare, and progress female pupils aged between 16-24 into STEM careers - including into Engineering Modern Apprenticeships - across the West of Scotland and the Forth Valley area.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the Women into STEM initiative, should contact Gillian Gray, West College Scotland’s Development Funding Executive – Business, Enterprise & Innovation, on gillian.gray@wcs.ac.uk.
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Women Into STEM – Young Enterprise Scotland
As part of the Women Into STEM project, Young Enterprise Scotland worked closely with pupils in the West and East of Scotland. The aim of working with female senior students was to allow them to develop marketing messages promoting STEM based roles.
- Session 1 – Introduction to the project & Marketing
The first session introduced the young women to the project, the aims and what was expected of their participation. The pupils were then introduced to marketing by exploring marketing methods, marketing techniques and effective case studies. Students also met Shreya Tripathi, form Petrofac, who shared her experiences as a Woman in STEM.
- Session 2 – Customers & Market Research
Session 2 explored the importance of knowing your target market when creating a marketing campaign. The students got the opportunity to create their own customer profile, allowing them to analyse the demographics, wants, needs and pain points of their target market. The pupils also explored methods of market research that may help them with the creation of their campaigns.
- Session 3 – Pitching
On the third week, the pupils gained an insight into pitching techniques and styles which could be useful when creating their marketing projects. Kirstin Gray from Skills Development Scotland also joined the group and shared her knowledge on women in STEM based roles, as well as looking at the different types of apprenticeships available.
- Session 4 – Submission Process and intro to the Circular Economy
The final workshop focused on supporting the pupils with the last stage of the project, the submission details and plenty of opportunities for questions. The young women were also introduced to the concept of the circular economy, an area which is developing many STEM based roles of the future.
Get in touch with Young Enterprise Scotland
Website: www.yes.org.uk
Email: admin@yes.org.uk