Ian Pearson - 18,000th Science and Engineering Ambassador

Thank you, Stewart. I am delighted to be here, to celebrate reaching the milestone of the 18,000th Science and Engineering Ambassador. And I would like to thank each and every Ambassador for the work that they do. It is making a real difference to the attitudes and aspirations of hundreds of thousands of young people.

In November, I launched a debate about the role of science in society.

I asked for the public's views about how to create a society that is excited about science, values its importance, feels confident in its use, and supports a representative, well-qualified scientific workforce.

I want to know what you - particularly - think, because you can speak from experience, you are encouraging future scientists and engineers through the Ambassadors Programme.

Reading about the history of your company, it's clear that its success has been largely the result of your having stayed ahead of emerging technologies, or - indeed - refining them.

Your company has always operated in a global environment - you were the first American contractor to receive contracts from the People's Republic of China.

But with an ever-more competitive and global economy, your need to recruit bright young scientists and engineers has never been greater.

We need to provide home-grown talent if we are to keep business in this country and encourage new companies to locate here.

Commitment to STEM

Over the last ten years, we have seen steady improvement in these areas - though we need to go further still if we are to continue to be world leaders in engineering, science and innovation.

In schools, maths and science GCSE results have improved every year since 1997.

Uptake in AS and A-Levels is also improving - reversing previous declines - though we need to maintain progress.

More pupils taking science AS and A-level has fed through to greater success at further and higher education level. UCAS figures show large increases in applications to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

That, in turn, is driving improvement in HE, innovation and research.

We can attribute part of this success to the significant increase in the number of teachers being recruited in the science and technology area. Teachers that have genuine experience of and enthusiasm for their subject help young people to get excited about science and technology and consider the attractiveness of science as a career.

This is also true of our Science and Engineering Ambassadors, for whom their subject is not a hazy memory of university, but part of the fabric of their everyday lives.

Ambassadors can show pupils not just what a subject is, but what it's for.

The Science and Engineering Ambassadors scheme

The Science and Engineering Ambassadors Programme, managed for us by STEMNET, is an excellent example of a partnership working well.

Over a thousand different employers from large multinationals to SMEs have volunteer ambassadors inspiring young people up and down the country.

Others are involved too, for example undergraduates studying at universities, who will have only recently left the school environment, are acting as young role models.

Through STEMNET's achievements, the Programme has grown rapidly and attracted ambassadors from a broad spectrum of disciplines and from all walks of life - from marine biologists to medical physicists, naval defence analysts to aeronautical engineers.

This variety is reflected in the different methods the ambassadors use to engage students; for example developing model rockets, geology field trips and careers e-mentoring to sixth form students.

But the value of this programme is not just about getting more pupils to take STEM subjects. It is also about helping to improve the skills of our science workforce - another Government objective.

The feedback from Ambassadors is that they have found their placements really enjoyable - and feel it has helped their career and personal development. And teachers enjoy having the ambassadors around as they open up new horizons beyond the curriculum.

Businesses also benefit - they can tap into fresh ideas and views through the creative thinking of our young people. And, they can increase their profile within the community, including the potential employees of tomorrow.

18,000th

I would like to thank M W Kellogg for your enthusiasm and commitment to the programme. Run as part of your corporate social responsibility activities, it is impressive that 23 staff have volunteered to take part, including Ewere Odaro, the 18,000th to sign to the Programme.

I understand that Ewere's experience as a graduate process engineer within the company is enabling her to develop a broad range of skills that could take her almost anywhere she wants to go, and that it is this career versatility that attracted her.

This is the type of message we want to get out to help attract our young people to STEM careers, and who better to do it than Ewere herself.

I'd like to end by thanking all of you involved in reaching the target of 18,000 Ambassadors - and I look forward to the Programme's continuing success in inspiring our future scientists and engineers.