Representatives from 10 local schools and the Cambridge Home Educating Families Network were also in attendance to find out more about the STEM outreach programme and meet the corporate ambassadors with whom they will be working.
The presentations opened with a welcome speech from Robert Marshall, CEO of Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Ltd, who originally initiated the LaunchPad programme in 2015. It was revealed that the TTP Group will be joining Arm, Marshall and Schlumberger as this year’s Core Partners. The Core Partners will be designing and delivering a programme of activities to students in the Cambridge area across the academic year alongside 15 other companies.
Professor Dame Athene Donald provided an inspiring and eye-opening keynote speech which highlighted the importance of STEM and the gender gap in education and careers. The biggest disparity being in physics with only 20% of girls taking this at A-Level, which falls at higher education level and decreases further in industry and academia.
The presentations were wrapped up with a first look at the new Cambridge LaunchPad film:
It's also available to view on Form the Future CIC’s YouTube channel.
“We are absolutely brimming with pride and overwhelmed by the number of companies within the Cambridge and Greater Cambridge STEM communities that share the Cambridge LaunchPad objective – to inspire, enthuse and educate our local young people. Without all of our contributing partners, notably our Core Partners Arm, Marshall, Schlumberger and TTP, Cambridge LaunchPad would not be able to engage in the way it does to shape the future of local students and the STEM sector. This year marks the start of a new phase for Cambridge LaunchPad and we are delighted to be a part of the changes and to see it go from strength to strength.” Michaela Eschbach, Co-founder of Form the Future CIC.
“I’m delighted to support this great initiative for the Cambridge region. It’s so important to inspire more young people – girls and boys – into STEM careers.” Professor Dame Athene Donald, Professor of Experimental Physics and Master of Churchill College.