The success of Silverstone Park’s schools engagement programme focusing on career types and pathways has been highlighted at the UK Science Park Association’s (UKSPA) Spring Conference.
Developer MEPC’s Anna Fletcher, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, presented during the event’s Growth, Skills & Talent plenary session.
The Conference – held earlier this month at the bioscience-led Babraham Campus in Cambridge – was attended by UKSPA’s sizeable network and key stakeholders discussing in-depth the many challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Anna explained how the Silverstone Park Schools Programme has engaged positively with thousands of secondary school students – predominantly in Years 8 and 9 – since it was launched in 2018.
In 2023 alone the programme recorded more than 6,500 ‘meaningful encounters’ with 845 young people.
This was achieved through a number of activities such as careers workshops by a network of business volunteers – many from companies located at Silverstone Park, others within the Silverstone Technology Cluster.
Amongst teenagers’ favourite activities were changing wheels and tyres on a racing kart with the National College for Motorsport and having their neural efficiency tested by sports performance specialist CoFiGi.
Anna also highlighted how Milton Park, Oxfordshire – like Silverstone Park under the management of developer MEPC – has achieved similar results with its schools engagement programme.
She commented: “My presentation seemed to be well received, with other science parks approaching me to find out more and showing interest in doing something similar.
“The more people put together education programmes, the more impact we will have collectively across the country in bridging the skills gap.
“It’s important as science parks that we invest in a skills pipeline and with educators to get that coming through for the future – particularly as fewer children have perhaps had contact with business since the pandemic.”
James Chaffer, UKSPA CEO, said: “Anna’s presentation was incredibly well received by the packed audience of UKSPA members and key stakeholders.
“The presentation highlighted the activities, engagement, outreach and the long-term collaborative partnerships that have been achieved through the inspiring schools programmes by both Silverstone Park and Milton Park.
“Initiatives such as these programmes are crucial to addressing the skills gap and significantly contributing to lasting social impact.
