London,
13
June
2017
|
15:47
Europe/London

Preparing young people for careers at global organisations in Camden

A new report, ‘Creating Camden’s 21st Century Talent’ by the Council-led Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) Commission, sets out plans for how our young people can better benefit from the global organisations working in Camden. 

Camden Council wants to give local, young people the best skills and opportunities so they can play a full part in the borough’s thriving creative, scientific and digital economy.

The report was launched at Google UK’s offices in King’s Cross on Monday, 12 June, during London Tech Week (12 to 16 June). You can read the report in full on our website. 

 

Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council
World-renowned institutions, including the British Library, the Francis Crick Institute and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, alongside companies such as Google UK and ASOS, have the potential to inspire and support our young people to aim high and forge exciting careers in the 21st century economy.

“Succeeding in this economy will increasingly require young people to have a fusion of skills - creativity blended with digital and science ability.

“The STEAM Commission’s ambition is to link businesses strongly with schools and further education colleges to help deliver the 21st century talent they need and, in so doing, to guarantee the best opportunities and futures for all our young people.
Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council

The STEAM Commission report’s recommendations include:

  • developing a new higher level apprenticeship and work experience offer with companies working in Camden’s Knowledge Quarter.
  • encouraging employees to volunteer as school governors or as speakers (‘STEAM ambassadors’) in schools to make sure young people are informed, inspired and better able to take advantage of these employers on their doorstep.
  • developing youth ‘STEAM champions’ in schools and colleges to spur on their classmates.

STEAM Commission Chair, Dinah Caine CBE, presented the report and its findings. She said: “Our economy is changing and we are now experiencing the beginning of a fourth Industrial Revolution. We need to ensure a model is in place that prepares our businesses and young people to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“Camden’s STEAM Commission sets out to promote Camden’s successful creative and knowledge economy and to ensure our businesses continue to succeed by having access to diverse, young, local talent. For this to happen, it’s vital that today’s young people and subsequent generations have STEAM embedded into their education, their out of school activities and their careers advice, working in close partnership with business, education, young people and the Council. We will all start work now to make the recommendations in today’s report a reality.”

The event also included a panel discussion, chaired by BBC News Economics Editor Kamal Ahmed and with contributions from Film Director Gurinder Chadha OBE. 

Amanda Timberg, Head of Staffing Programs for Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “At Google we see every day how passionate young people are about making a positive impact on the world. Engaging in cross-curricular courses, projects and extracurricular activities joins the dots and shows young people how they can make this a lifelong pursuit.

“We hope this report sets out clear ways for these young people, their parents and carers, schools and businesses to broaden these opportunities in Camden and increase their access.”

Kyro Brooks, Chief Executive of the newly-established Young Camden Foundation, said: “We need to set ambitious goals for our young people. The report highlights the need for a community-wide approach to empower Camden’s young people with the range of skills to enable them to take the opportunities that the creative, scientific and digital economy offer. The Young Camden Foundation welcomes and is ideally placed to help build on the recommendations of the STEAM Commission. We are committed to working collaboratively to support young people, bringing together organisations across all sectors to look at new and innovative ways to ensure we invest in local talent so they have the right skills to flourish.”