CIE Components in Electronics
Partnership to play key role in promoting an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths among school children
RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, has signed up over 70 volunteers at a special open day held at its Corby headquarters to recruit STEM Ambassadors for its partnership with STEM Learning, to help inspire future engineers. Recruits came from RS branches and offices located all around the country.
The initiative will see a series of workshops developed and delivered to schoolchildren aged 11 to 16, incorporating the latest technologies including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing and robotics.
James Howarth, head of product management for RS in Northern Europe, said: “As a STEM partner we are in a position to educate the engineers of the future by developing projects aligned to the STEM curriculum and supported by the RS STEM Ambassadors that we have and are currently recruiting. The STEM Ambassadors will support both this initiative and additional local activities. The open day in Corby welcomed all RS employees who feel passionate about the education of young people and who want to inspire – and we’re delighted there was such a great turnout.”
Photo caption (L to R): Dave Gibbs, STEM Computing and Technology Specialist; Gemma Taylor, Technology CPD Lead; Pete Wood, Technology Evangelist, DesignSpark; James Howarth, Head of Product Management, RS Components Northern Europe; Efua Quartey Ochu, Project Officer
Activities carried out by STEM Ambassadors will include STEM clubs, site visits, science festivals, mentoring, careers talks and classroom activities.
The STEM Learning partnership forms part of the RS objective to inspire tomorrow’s engineers – demonstrated with its investment in RS Live Innovation in Motion truck, offering a highly engaging way for young people to learn about engineering and technology through various activities within the truck’s interactive display zones. The truck has been touring academic organisations in the UK since its launch in 2016.
Gill Collinson, head of Centre and Partnerships at STEM Learning, is delighted with the partnership: “The STEM Ambassadors programme is an important part of STEM Learning’s vision to ensure a world-class STEM education for all young people in the UK. The inspiration that role models like the STEM Ambassadors from RS Components can provide to young people is an essential part of this. We know that working with a STEM Ambassador helps to increase young people’s awareness of the importance of STEM subjects and their engagement in STEM.”
James concluded: “The success of our first recruitment day is testament to the fact that the commitment from RS in educating the engineers of tomorrow is an ethos that runs right through the organisation.”
