More than 60 schools and colleges from across Cheshire and Warrington came together with some of the region’s largest employers to tackle a shared challenge: ensuring young people leave education equipped with the skills local businesses need.
The annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Symposium, held at Chester Zoo on Tuesday 23 June, brought together educators and employers from construction, clean energy, hospitality, financial services and health sectors. Attendees included Storengy, Barclays, Stellantis, Altimex, Colas, NHS and Microsoft.
Many of the businesses involved are part of the Cheshire Science Corridor, a 40-mile stretch along the M56 that is home to more than 7,000 businesses and represents the largest concentration of private-sector science and technology activity in the North of England. Discussions throughout the day focused on how to strengthen the STEM curriculum in schools and colleges to better align with the future needs of regional employers.
Speakers included representatives from HyNet, whose carbon capture project is based at the Origin Cluster in Ellesmere Port, and Microsoft, which highlighted the rapid growth of the AI economy. Will Chitty, Principle at Crewe UTC, delivered a keynote speech showcasing the impact of strong employer–education partnerships and his strong relationship with Bentley.
The symposium was organised by the Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub, in partnership with The Pledge at Youth Fed, Chester Zoo and the charity Tech She Can, who are sponsored by Microsoft and supporting its involvement in the event with Microsoft Ambassadors.
Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Lead Member for Health, Inclusion, Education and Skills at the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, said: “The STEM Symposium was an incredibly important event where education leaders and local businesses met to discuss the curriculum and how employer–education collaboration can maximise opportunities for our young people and turbocharge our economy.
“We want Cheshire and Warrington to be the UK’s healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and fastest-growing region by 2045, and our schools, young people and businesses working together are pivotal to achieving that ambition.”
Early findings from the Future Skills Questionnaire, completed by over 12,000 young people across Cheshire and Warrington this academic year, show growing alignment with key growth sectors, particularly STEM. Maintaining this progress will require continued teacher upskilling and deeper employer involvement in the curriculum.
The Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub works directly with schools, colleges, apprenticeship providers and employers to ensure young people from all backgrounds benefit from high-quality careers education and meaningful workplace experiences. Employers interested in supporting future talent are encouraged to connect with the Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub careershub@cheshireandwarrington.com
Chris Wright, Deputy Headteacher at The Bridge Short Stay School, said: “In an ever-changing world, it is vital that we help students translate the knowledge they gain in school into real-world applications and make those meaningful connections.
“Events such as the STEM Symposium provide a valuable platform for educators to create opportunities for all young people to thrive, discover their potential and explore pathways they may not have previously considered.”
James Pout, Communications Executive at Progressive Energy Ltd, the company behind the HyNet project, said: “Our region is home to world-leading industries, from low-carbon technologies to AI and data centres. These rapidly evolving sectors are reshaping both the future labour market and today’s workforce.
“This challenge cannot be addressed in isolation. Educators and industry must work in close partnership to prepare young people effectively for emerging and future jobs.
“By aligning education more closely with economic priorities, we can equip young people with the skills to succeed while strengthening the region’s long-term growth and competitiveness.”
John Yarham, Chief Executive of the Careers & Enterprise Company, added: “The Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub is at the forefront of local skills ambitions, by strengthening links between education and employers through access to modern work experience, and alignment to the Industrial Strategy and its focus on priority sectors and local growth.
“I welcome the region’s approach – harnessing data on young people’s skills development through the Future Skills Questionnaire, to target support and raise awareness of pathways into key sectors.
“This year’s STEM Symposium has highlighted the vast range of employers leading the charge and the vital role of Careers Hubs in expanding access to opportunity for all young people across the region.”
