Crick backs new scheme to support young people

Local students promoting the STEAM launch at the Crick

Local students promoting the STEAM launch at the Crick

- Camden Council

As part of our commitment to improving education and employment opportunities in the local community, the Crick hosted the launch of a new Camden Council initiative to link employers with local schools and colleges.

The Crick was among 31 Camden employers to sign the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) 21st Century Talent Pledge, which aims to give local young people access to the best opportunities that the borough has to offer and help them develop the right skills for their chosen careers.

At the launch event here at the Crick, young people from the borough helped encourage businesses to sign up to the pledge and spoke to around 150 guests from schools, businesses, the council and local institutions.

Dr Clare Davy, Education Manager at the Crick, said: “This launch highlights what an ideal place Camden is for these kind of initiatives. The teenage comperes perfectly set the tone for what we’re hoping to achieve: young people, who through engagement with business, have gained the knowledge, skills and experiences needed for them to become the STEAM professionals of the future. It was great to have an audience of organizations who, like the Crick, want to get involved in making this a reality in Camden, and with clear leadership from the council to ensure we are really addressing local need.”

World-renowned institutions and companies here in Camden are helping to inspire and support our young people to aim high and forge exciting careers.
Councillor Georgia Gould

As part of the pledge, all employers including the Crick committed to volunteering at least one STEAM Ambassador to work with schools and young people. These ambassadors will help to develop the STEAM curriculum and enhance careers education by speaking in schools or offering masterclasses to teachers, governors or young people. We are also committed to welcoming and inspiring the workforce of the future by offering at least two further opportunities, which could include workplace visits, mentoring, work experience, apprenticeships and many other opportunities.

Dinah Caine, Chair of the Camden STEAM Commission, said: “Our STEAM programme aims to promote Camden’s successful creative and knowledge economy and to ensure our businesses continue to succeed by having access to diverse, young, local talent. For this to happen, it’s vital that today’s local young people and subsequent generations have STEAM embedded into their education, their out-of-school activities, their careers advice and work placement opportunities, working in close partnership with business, education, young people and the council.”

Lindsley Ruth, CEO of RS Components and STEAM Commission Business Lead, said: "As businesses, we have the power to change young people's lives by inspiring and educating them. Whether a small enterprise or a large multinational, I call on all Camden employers to make our 21st century economy accessible to local young people, whilst developing a diverse talent pipeline and addressing the skills shortage. The 21st Century Talent Pledge enables businesses to focus our efforts in a coherent and impactful way."

Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council, said: “World-renowned institutions and companies here in Camden are helping to inspire and support our young people to aim high and forge exciting careers. Our STEAM programme’s ambition is to link businesses strongly with schools and further education colleges to help deliver the 21st century talent they need and, in so doing, to guarantee the best opportunities and futures for all our young people.”

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