The North East STEM Foundation (NESF) and RTC North have formed a new strategic collaboration aimed at extending STEM opportunities to more young people across the region. By combining their expertise, employer networks and resources on selected projects, the two organisations aim to broaden their reach, strengthen links between education and industry and create more opportunities for young people to engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The first initiative to be delivered through the collaboration is the Pupil Passport, which will involve around 2,000 pupils from 20 schools across the North East this year following a successful pilot. The Pupil Passport encourages pupils to record and build on their STEM experiences throughout their education. Each time they take part in activities such as workshops, competitions, employer encounters, STEM Ambassador sessions, industry visits or careers events, they receive a stamp in their passport, creating a lasting record of their STEM journey. It also supports participation in nationally recognised CREST Awards, project-based awards that recognise STEM achievement. Together, they provide valuable evidence of pupils’ skills, curiosity and commitment when applying for university, apprenticeships and future employment.
The collaboration brings together NESF’s expertise in delivering employer-led STEM outreach and widening access to high-quality STEM opportunities with Sunderland-based RTC North’s extensive experience of coordinating regional STEM programmes and connecting education with industry through initiatives including STEM Hub, STEMFest and CREST Awards. Both organisations will continue to deliver their own established programmes independently while working together on selected initiatives where their combined expertise and networks can increase their impact.
Tania Cooper MBE, Chair of NESF, said: “We exist to ensure every young person in the North East, regardless of background, has access to meaningful STEM opportunities. Working alongside RTC North on targeted projects allows us to broaden our reach, strengthen our links with industry and create even more opportunities for young people.”
The collaboration will seek to strengthen employer engagement, raise the profile of STEM opportunities and make it easier for schools and businesses to work together, creating a more connected pathway from the classroom to future careers.
Janine Marshall, Head of Business Development at RTC North, added: “This partnership with the North East STEM Foundation is about alignment, not duplication. By working together, we can amplify the impact of STEM activity across the region, connecting education, industry and opportunity, while respecting the independence and unique strengths of both organisations.”
The Pupil Passport is the first of several joint initiatives planned by NESF and RTC North, with plans to roll it out to many more schools in the years ahead. Together, the organisations aim to create a more connected STEM ecosystem, giving more young people access to inspiring experiences while helping employers develop the skilled workforce the North East will need in the years ahead.
