Meet the Finalists: STEM Award
Over the coming days, Maritime UK will be profiling each of the finalists in this year’s Maritime UK Awards. Winners will be announced on 12 November in an event live streamed from Plymouth. Registration is open here.
Emphasising their commitment to inspiring the next generation of maritime professionals, UK Naval Engineering, Science & Technology (UKNEST) are proud to sponsor the 2020 STEM Award at this year’s Maritime UK Awards.
The STEM Award, open to businesses, charities and organisations of any size will be given to an organisation that can demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the promotion science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and the opportunities these subjects present within maritime. This can be evidenced through products and services, or through work with young people, schools, colleges or apprenticeships to inspire and develop the next generation.
The winner of the award will be announced at a virtual event, live-streamed from Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City on 12 November from 5pm.
UKNEST is the forum representing the opportunities within the naval sector, which is of strategic importance to the wider maritime industries in the UK. The sponsorship of the STEM Award forms part of a collective strategic approach by UKNEST.
Mike Rose, Executive Officer & Secretary to UKNEST said:
“Inspiring the next generation into engineering, science and technology careers is fundamental to securing a resilient, agile and competitive naval sector workforce. Alongside the practical justification sits the moral; this is about giving those a shout in life who otherwise wouldn’t have had, without the intervention of Youth STEM engagement and the informed life choices it brings.”
Highly respected experts from a variety of businesses and government departments were involved in the judging panel for this year’s Maritime UK Awards, which celebrate the achievements of the UK’s maritime sector, which adds £46.1bn to the UK economy every year, and supports 1.1 million jobs.
Shortlisted for the 2020 STEM Award are three organisations that have all demonstrated organised efforts to inspire young people to engage in STEM subjects and related careers: the 1851 Trust, SEA and Princess Yachts.
The 1851 Trust is an educational charity who, as part of their STEM development have developed and deliver the STEM Crew programme. Supported by INEOS, STEM Crew provides free digital teaching resources for 11-16-year olds across the UK, and has reached 250,000 school pupils since its launch in 2016. The platform is currently being used by 35% of all UK secondary schools, and a 200% increase in daily activity since the beginning of 2020 has shown the importance of high-quality digital resources in recent months.
Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) is a company delivering electronic systems to the defence, transport and offshore energy sectors. Dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue a career in engineering, one of the key objectives for the business is to become an employer of choice and to actively promote exciting careers related to STEM subjects. SEA has therefore developed a programme of business engagement in schools with the primary objective of inspiring and motivating young people to pursue a STEM career and improve skills in these areas. SEA engages with students, teachers and parents to increase the collaboration between business and academia.
Princess Yachts are a British luxury yacht manufacturer specialising in motor yachts measuring between 35 and 114ft. Recognising that their success is largely due to the skills and abilities of 3,000 employees, Princess Yachts invest time and effort in their apprenticeship programmes in order to provide career opportunities to young people. The company offers apprenticeships for people of all ages in boat building, marine engineering, design, welding, business, leadership, IT and composites. Princess Yachts currently have 100 apprentices throughout their organisation, and 10 % of current managers started their careers through the programme.
Harry Theochari, Chair of Maritime UK, said:
“We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the Maritime UK Awards 2020. Across all fourteen categories we can see some genuinely world-beating products, services, and operators. The quality of entries this year is testament to the strength and commitment of our maritime sector to be world-class despite the most challenging of circumstances.”
Ben Murray, Director of Maritime UK, said:
“We were determined that these awards would go ahead, and in an ideal world would have been one of the first occasions at which colleagues from across the sector could come back together following COVID-19. With that not being possible due to new restrictions, we think it’s really important to celebrate the remarkable work that has been going on – in responding to COVID-19, and in spite of it – which sends a message of resilience and ambition.”
The 2020 Maritime UK Awards are hosted by Maritime UK South West and delivered by Plymouth City Council. Diamond Sponsors are the MLA College and the University of Plymouth.
Tickets to the live-streamed event are free and open to everyone. To register visit the official website.