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Girls urged to reach for the stars with a career in science and tech

A major campaign to get young people from Milton Keynes interested in a career in science and technology will launch on social media next month. MK Innovates aims to inspire city youngsters – particularly schoolgirls – to consider a future in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). The sector is facing a recruitment crisis, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in highly paid roles in the automotive and aerospace industries. The MK Innovates initiative – created by Women’s Leaders UK – will also appeal to graduates, adult career changers and first jobbers. It will feature a host of exciting interviews, competitions, science tasks, puzzles and investigations. Businesses, colleges and universities in Milton Keynes and the surrounding region will upload content to their own social media platforms but unify the presentations using the hashtags #MKInnovates, #InnovatingForTheFuture and #BSW21 (British Science Week).A major campaign to get young people from Milton Keynes interested in a career in science and technology will launch on social media next month.

MK Innovates aims to inspire city youngsters – particularly schoolgirls – to consider a future in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). The sector is facing a recruitment crisis, with thousands of unfilled vacancies in highly paid roles in the automotive and aerospace industries. The MK Innovates initiative – created by Women’s Leaders UK – will also appeal to graduates, adult career changers and first jobbers. It will feature a host of exciting interviews, competitions, science tasks, puzzles and investigations. Businesses, colleges and universities in Milton Keynes and the surrounding region will upload content to their own social media platforms but unify the presentations using the hashtags #MKInnovates, #InnovatingForTheFuture and #BSW21 (British Science Week).
Taking place from March 8-12, MK Innovates will also highlight the types of organisations and jobs that already exist in Milton Keynes, and encourage youngsters to study STEM subjects at school, college and university. The event is an online prelude to the annual MK STEM Festival in Middleton Hall, which has been put back until October 8-9 due to Covid. It has the backing of firms including Niftylift, City Fibre, Anglian Water and Starship – which developed the world famous delivery robots.MK Innovates chairman Elizabeth Sheldon said: “Industry is crying out for more engineers and scientists, particularly women. There are not enough girls in the sector and we want to help change that by highlighting the exciting opportunities to them from the ages of eight to 18. “A career in science and technology can be exhilarating, and well rewarded.


“Our online event will showcase the businesses and education establishments in Milton Keynes that are at the cutting edge of technology and are helping to shape our futures. “We would love people to share details of the event on their social media and spread the word – let’s create a real buzz around Milton Keynes.” Jason Ford, news editor at The Engineer, said: “Engineers will use their collective expertise to address the world’s most profound challenges – from decarbonisation and climate change to vehicle electrification and automation. “The Engineer’s 2019 survey found the average salary across all the engineering sectors came in at between £44,000 and £59,000. “There is also a recognised skills gap, so salaries will be at a premium for those who do the ‘hard yards’ and qualify as an engineer, either through an apprenticeship or the university route. Engineering skills are interchangeable and can be taken overseas. An aerodynamicist can quite easily move from designing rotor blades for wind turbines to working in automotive or aerospace. “The world is your oyster if you pursue STEM subjects and make a career from them.”

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