Career conference aims to make youngsters more tech-aware

More than 30 companies and 150 business professionals attended the event at The Racecourse Newbury. Statistics predict that 900,000 vacancies will be available in those fields by 2015, but many pupils will not be equipped with the necessary skills.
Among the ranks were local companies AWE, Vodafone and Quantel as well as national corporations such as JVC, Sony and Microsoft, which offered advice and demonstrations of employees putting their skills into action for pupils from eight local schools, including Kennet, Trinity and Theale Green Community School.
The event was hosted by a former presenter of the BBC programme Tomorrow’s World, Maggie Philbin.
A survey conducted at the end of the day found that 75 per cent of the youngsters said they were more likely to think about engineering as a career, 68 per cent were more enthusiastic about a career in science, and 70 per cent reconsidered the value and status they attached to science and engineering.
The Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Newbury, Judith Bunting, who was also in attendance, said: “The kids were really having a lovely time.
“I am passionate about both education and science, as a scientist myself, so I find this project exciting on a personal level.
“Traditionally, science, engineering and technology have been seen as a bit geeky, so I think it’s great that this programme is helping to dispel those myths.
“I’m confident that it will also help safeguard the future of the local economy, as it will ensure that West Berkshire has a smart, savvy and tech-aware workforce in the 21st century.”