TeenTech, the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership (LDSP) and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are bringing the first in-person TeenTech Lancashire Festival to UCLan’s Preston campus on 16 May, after two years of successful online events.
TeenTech events aim to help young people from 8 to 18 understand the opportunities in the science, technology and engineering industries, raise their aspirations and realise their potential to take on the careers of tomorrow – no matter what their gender or background.
The partners behind the Lancashire event are calling on organisations to get involved to engage and inspire the next generation in all areas of contemporary industry, and showcase the importance of digital, scientific and engineering skills across the region.
Over 300 pupils from 30 secondary schools will be taking part. The students will then be invited to develop projects for the TeenTech Awards and provided with mentors to support this work.
Businesses and universities from across the region can support the event by running inspiring activities and challenges relating to their areas of expertise, or by providing ambassadors who support a small team of students for the day.
Commenting on the first in-person event for Lancashire, TeenTech CEO and co-founder, Maggie Philbin OBE, said: “I’m delighted to work with the LDSP partners and UCLan to develop and deliver an exciting festival designed to bring careers to life for young people across Lancashire.
“It’s a great opportunity to share the impact of your work on the technologies of the future and the next generation.”
Kerry Harrison, Lead for the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership said, “After two years of successful online TeenTech events reaching over 1600 young people in Lancashire, the LDSP is delighted that working with partners including UCLan, FutureU, Oracle, DCMS/DIST, Create Education and the Lancashire Careers Hub, we can now invite our schools to an in-person event at UCLan.
“We are thrilled that young people will get the opportunity to experience what the businesses and universities of Lancashire and wider national organisations are doing and the exciting careers they may want to choose in this county. All showcased in the fabulous facilities of UCLan.”
Jo Brown, who runs UCLan’s Young Scientist Centre, said, “UClan are delighted to be hosting the first in-person Teen Tech Lancashire Festival. We are looking forward to young people from Lancashire being able to experience the buzz of all the opportunities that could be in their future.
“TeenTech Festivals have been enthusiastically received by students, teachers, and participating companies since the inaugural event in 2008. They are evidence based, sharply focussed, and meticulously timetabled events, designed to ensure maximum learning and forge powerful connections between schools and universities and local and national businesses.
“It’s an exciting, immersive, and powerful programme which not only helps young people understand the opportunities in contemporary industry but also helps them develop the skills and personal qualities which are most needed in tomorrow’s world. It’s a day that changes minds and
celebrates all things creative in digital, cyber security, science, technology, construction and engineering.”
Up to 30 businesses and local university departments will provide high quality inspiring activities and industry ambassadors.
Organisations can support by:
• Running an interactive stand in the Insight Zone where 5 students will be timetabled to your stand for 15 minutes at a time, along with either a teacher or an ambassador.
• Running a Challenge Zone activity where 10 students will be timetabled to your stand for 30 minutes at a time, along with their teacher and an ambassador.
• Providing business ambassadors who would support a small group of students, alongside their teacher, for the day as they move round the different zones of the event.
Companies will not be charged for participating in the events but a wide range of sponsorship packages are available. Please contact Sally Dixon for more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
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