An on-line service designed to match employers with teachers, tutors and training providers was launched last month as part of a campaign to improve science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education to ensure that it meets the need of industry.

The Semta skills organisation set up the STEM Exchange as part of a wider STEM Alliance project that brings together Further Education (FE) and industry to “develop a higher level of competence, confidence and collaboration in STEM teaching and learning, to equip the next generation of engineers, scientists, mathematicians and technicians with the skills to succeed”.

The STEM Exchange connects individual teachers and tutors at colleges, private training providers and education charities involved in FE with local employers that have agreed to provide support.

The type of support is entirely up to the employer; it could be as simple as one-to-one meetings, phone calls focused on specific subjects or running in-house training programmes.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, FSL Aerospace, Martin Manufacturing UK and JCB are among the first employers to sign up.

Semta chief executive Ann Watson (pictured) said: “The STEM Exchange has been born out of employer feedback about the quality and relevance of training delivered by the FE sector.

“As these key areas of the UK economy move quickly in response to changes in technology and international market pressure, those tasked with teaching new entrants can become disconnected with the most recent developments.

“The effect of this can be felt in the skills gap reported by employers. The Royal Academy of Engineering reports
the need for 160,000 engineers, scientists and technicians by 2020, but this does not factor in the effects of an ageing workforce and the international ‘brain drain’.

“Employers are critical in helping those tasked with reducing this skills gap. In doing so, they contribute to improving their own competitiveness, economic sustainability and growth. I would urge all employers and those in FE to use the STEM Exchange to make a real difference.”

For more information, visit the Web site (www.stemexchange.co.uk) or call 0845 643 9001.