STEM boosted in the West Midlands on region's ever biggest employee volunteering day

The single biggest company volunteering day ever held in the West Midlands took place today (9 July), with 27 companies using their talents to promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through a range of interactive activities.

Backed nationally by law firm Eversheds LLP, Business in the Community’s Give & Gain Day helped more than 2300 secondary pupils and community groups  in the region find out more about STEM careers in a bid to get more young people to develop skills in future growth industries.

Companies, including Beachcroft LLP, E.on, Jaguar Land Rover and Cadbury UK, let more than 330 employee volunteers swap their day jobs to take part in the groundbreaking initiative.

David Darlaston, Regional Director at Business in the Community (BITC), picked up the story:

“This year we have focused on engaging young people in activities that raise awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and businesses have responded in record numbers.

“The input of employers into education is becoming increasingly critical and ‘Give & Gain Day’ is another way that companies can utilise the knowledge of their staff to pass on crucial hints, tips and experiences to secondary school students.”

He continued: “Workers also get the chance to communicate with people they may not normally work with and to develop new skills. It’s a win-win situation.”

Over 22  interactive team activities were held during ‘Give & Gain Day’ at three central venues in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, with activities ranging from spaghetti bridge and the speed, eggs and slam challenge to flight and magic square maths.

As part of the West Midlands event, some of the region’s leading Directors attended a special lunch at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, to find out more about how business can make an impact on boosting STEM subjects in schools.

Science Garden

Delegates, who chatted with volunteers and pupils, also received an exclusive sneak preview at the stunning designs for the UK’s first 3,000 sq metre outdoor, interactive ‘Science Garden’ exhibition; a radical new project designed to get young people excited about science, right in the heart of Birmingham’s new City Park. 

In addition to STEM related activites, companies also volunteered their time on eight other community projects across the region, including creating school allotments to promote the science of healthy eating.

Les Ratcliffe, Community Relations Manager at Jaguar Land Rover was delighted with the event:“We have a role to play in making sure we help promote Science Technology Engineering and Maths to the next generation of workers, who are going to drive our economy forward.

“In addition to the activities, I know all the volunteers on our team will have got something out of the event that they can now use in our business going forward.”

Amandip Kang from Aston Manor Secondary School concluded: “It’s fantastic that local companies across the West Midlands have pledged their support to such a great event and our pupils have benefitted greatly.

Taking education out of the classroom

“It’s really important to take education out of the classroom and so much knowledge can be imparted from employees to our young people – it really does make a long-term difference.”

Sponsored by Eversheds LLP, Give & Gain Day 2010 is dedicated to getting thousands of employees out of the office, store or factory to volunteer their time in the local community.

Bryan Hughes, Chief Executive of Eversheds LLP said: "Companies that take part in Give & Gain Day  show that they are really committed to their communities and give their employees the opportunity to have fun, feel good and help change lives for the better.

“Part of Eversheds ethos is to give back to the many communities around the world in which we live and work. We have a longstanding relationship with Business in the Community and are proud to be sponsoring Give & Gain Day 2010."

This year, over 6,000 employees from 212 organisations will give up their time on Give & Gain Day, injecting £1m man-hours into projects.

More information

For more details on Give & Gain 2010 in the West Midlands contact Jennifer Leech, Partnership Broker at Business in the Community Tel: 0121 451 2227.