New STEM Club held at ASK with Blackburn Youth Zone
We recently launched a brand-new programme at the Academy for Skills & Knowledge in partnership with Blackburn Youth Zone, designed to inspire the young people in our local communities to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) later in life.
The week-long programme saw Blackburn Youth Zone members participate in workshops such as CAD (Computer Aided Design), Machining, Electrics and Fitting, and by the end of the week they had all successfully produced their very own aircraft model. This enabled them to experience different elements of engineering and to develop new skills such as communication and teamwork.
My daughters had an absolutely fabulous time and we'd like to thank everyone involved. The week educated them not just in engineering, but also in life skills, confidence and what working life is like. It also gave them an insight into the opportunities available at BAE Systems. Parent at STEM Club, which was held at BAE Systems ASK Academy
We hope the STEM Club, aimed to replicate ‘a week in the life of an apprentice’, will encourage young people to consider our apprenticeship, graduate and work experience schemes in the future and develop their skills in STEM subjects throughout their academic career. Feedback from the week has been hugely positive, one parent whose children attended had this to say: “My daughters had an absolutely fabulous time and we'd like to thank everyone involved. The week educated them not just in engineering, but also in life skills, confidence and what working life is like. It also gave them an insight into the opportunities available at BAE Systems.”
Nigel Davies, Principal, Academy for Skills and Knowledge, played an instrumental role in creating STEM Club and presented certificates on the final day of each week. He said: “All those that participated in this programme have been a true inspiration to us and should be proud of their hard work. We have seen them grow as individuals, advance their skills and come together as a team, exceeding our expectations. We hope that one day they will come back!”
“We are really proud to be a patron of Blackburn Youth Zone and to deliver STEM workshops for Blackburn Youth Zone members. We wanted to work together in order to reach out to the community and offer opportunities to young people who might not normally apply to work at BAE Systems.
Raz Mohammed, Chief Executive of Blackburn Youth Zone said: “The Youth Zone and BAE Systems share a common interest: supporting and inspiring young people to realise and reach their potential. The STEM courses, in particular, give opportunities to young people who would not normally be able to experience engineering projects such as this.”