Quickline and STEM Learning have teamed up to provide research placements, computing equipment, support for teachers and summer STEM camps to improve young people’s computing skills.
Quickline will provide much needed funds over the next three years to STEM Learning’s ENTHUSE Charitable Trust.
The funding will help disadvantaged young people by giving them greater access to computing equipment, improved teaching and summer camps where they can develop their confidence and experience. This will provide them with an insight and pathway into a career in computing.
The partnership will create 12 ‘computing clusters’ in schools in disadvantaged areas across West Yorkshire. These schools will receive funding, will be helped to work towards the Computing Quality Mark in their computing curriculum and can collaborate with each other to share successes and challenges. They will also have access to new computing kit.
Young people from the schools can also attend STEM camps to increase their skills. Taking place during school holidays, these will feature four days of intensive, face-to-face study followed by online career education support from mentors afterwards.
The funding will also give 180 young people across the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire the opportunity of a two-week research placement – further developing their knowledge and appreciation of the potential of a rewarding STEM career.
STEM Learning’s CEO Séverine Trouillet, said, “We would like to say a huge thank you to Quickline for this extremely generous donation which will allow young people in Yorkshire to have the equipment, skills and insight to prepare them for a career in computing. “This is the essence of why we partner with employers. Quickline’s goal to ensure rural communities have access to fast broadband has a huge impact on these communities, and our work is all about impact too – developing the appreciation and love of STEM in young people and growing the talent pool.
“We are so grateful for this funding and can’t wait to see the many tangible benefits on the schools, teachers and young people who will be involved in exciting activities as a result and grow the skills needed for a thriving UK economy and society.”
Sean Royce, CEO at Quickline, said: “At Quickline, we are passionate about empowering the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
“Our partnership with STEM Learning and the funding we have provided is a significant step towards improving access to computing resources and education for young people in disadvantaged areas across large parts of Yorkshire.
“By offering essential equipment, teacher support, and summer STEM camps, we hope to inspire future innovators and help bridge the digital divide in these communities.”
Quickline’s partnership with STEM Learning is part of a social values programme it has committed to under Project Gigabit. Quickline is supporting a range of initiatives focused on regional regeneration by helping organisations and individuals return to work, while also equipping young and disadvantaged people with valuable skills to secure employment.