Educating & Enabling
Building For The Future
The UK has a great history of research, innovation and commercialisation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine aka. STEM(M). However, to keep pace with global competition it is estimated we'll need to go beyond filling the existing 173,000 vacancies that are already costing us over £1.5bn.
This challenge represents an opportunity for young people to develop fulfilling careers within a diverse sector. However, this opportunity is not spread evenly. As reported by the Royal Academy of Engineering, only 8% of the UK’s engineering workforce are women – the lowest number across the whole of Europe. Similar statistics describe the low numbers of engineers from minority ethnic backgrounds. The situation for people identifying as LGBT+ is no different, highlighting under representation and unequal opportunities.
Social background and income levels have been identified as a major blocker to broader STEM engagement. Students from low-income families are less likely to attend top universities and less likely to achieve higher grades. While extensive data exists to demonstrate that white middle-class, privately educated males are most likely to be the scientists, engineers and doctors of tomorrow, white working-class males are also being left behind at an alarming level.
At The Roysia Foundation we believe in giving every young person an equal opportunity to develop an exciting and rewarding career in a sector that benefits everyone in the UK. We believe that a person's background shouldn't dictate their future and are working to open up new opportunities for everyone.
On a practical level we achieve our aims through a combination of public educational activities that promote STEM to our target groups; and funding initiatives that actively enable students to progress their careers.
We do not fund individuals directly, but fund existing initiatives offered by recognised and vetted UK institutions. This vastly reduces our operating overheads, ensuring more of our income goes directly to where it's needed.