CityFibre partners with STEM Learning to help bridge skills gap

CityFibre has partnered with STEM Learning to help bring learning to life in classrooms throughout the UK.

The partnership will boost the appeal of STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics – alongside offering more opportunities for students and teachers to engage in learning using resources funded by the financial injection.

CityFibre has committed £150,000 over a three-year period into various STEM Learning modules, benefitting over 80 schools within the Project Gigabit footprint.

These modules will include Computer Clusters, I Belong, and ENTHUSE Partnerships, which will each respectively, improve the delivery of computer science and IT lessons, encourage and enable girls to pursue a career in STEM, and develop young people’s awareness and understanding of STEM subjects.

The partnership will also offer additional KS1 and KS2 resources through Explorify, creating opportunities for students to explore and understand careers in STEM, plus CityFibre employees will volunteer their time to host assemblies and webinars to educate young people on career paths within the industry.

It is estimated that by 2030, there will be a shortage of around one million engineers across the UK. Historically, there have been barriers for young people to thrive in STEM subjects, and subsequently, STEM careers have seen a decline in interest amongst young people.

CityFibre, with STEM Learning, aims to address these challenges by showcasing how enriching and accessible STEM careers can be. This partnership is a key component of CityFibre's broader ESG initiative, reflecting its dedication to social responsibility by investing in the education and future of young people.

Stacey King, Senior Partnership Manager at CityFibre, said: "With this partnership, we aim to bridge the digital skills gap and help inspire the next generation of digital innovators to pursue a career in STEM. “As part of the Project Gigabit programme, we are investing in the future and equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in a digital world."

Mayaz Rahman, STEM Learning’s Head of Fundraising, said: “CityFibre’s very welcome donation to our ENTHUSE Charitable Trust allows us to work together on this dynamic three-year plan to transform the prospects and outlook of thousands of young people.”