GCHQ and GFirst LEP on a mission to recruit scientists and engineers of the future

With a gap in engineering and manufacturing skills at an all-time high both nationally and in Gloucestershire, GFirst LEP in partnership with GCHQ in Cheltenham, one of the largest employers in the county, is encouraging more young people to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at school, college and university.

With a gap in engineering and manufacturing skills at an all-time high both nationally and in Gloucestershire, GFirst LEP in partnership with GCHQ in Cheltenham, one of the largest employers in the county, is encouraging more young people to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at school, college and university.

To raise awareness and enthusiasm in these subjects, teachers and lecturers from around Gloucestershire have been invited to a symposium in January 2014 to learn how skills in science, technology, engineering and maths are in demand. The symposium will demonstrate how STEM subjects in the curriculum are put into practice including a line-up of engineers, scientists and mathematicians, who will be speaking about their work that includes codes and cypher, information security, computer, electrical and electronic engineering.

Teachers and lecturers from all secondary schools, colleges and universities are being invited to register their interest before the end of November 2013, on a first come first served basis. The symposium is being organised by GCHQ and the Education Business Partnership (EBP), part of GFirst LEP that works closely with schools across the county to help prepare young people for the workplace with practice job interview and business skills.

Richard, Strategic Advisor for Mathematics at GCHQ said: “This is a new and important event for GCHQ to help teachers inspire pupils to be enthusiastic about STEM subjects and the careers they open up. As a high-tech organisation, science, technology, engineering and maths are key to our business and we need people with expertise and enthusiasm for these subjects to come and work for us as part of our mission.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate why these subjects are so important to GCHQ and how topics from the school curriculum relate to the work being done here.”

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst LEP added: “STEM plays a critical component for our future economic growth to develop essential skills in demand; this initiative comes at a critical time when we need to boost sustainable economic growth across the county, to create prosperity and jobs.

“I’m delighted that GCHQ are supporting EBP with this exciting initiative and I would urge all teachers and lecturers across Gloucestershire to sign up.”