Let’s take a step back. In 2016 (yes, before we even had a building!) we at M-SParc began hosting STEM workshops aiming to encourage more young people to engage with science, technology, engineering, and maths. We quickly realized that there was a real need for these types of events, and the feedback from the students, parents and teachers was overwhelmingly positive.
We collaborated with partners across the region to do this, and from the Eisteddfod to the courtyard of M-SParc, we’ve had some exciting events in some interesting places! We knew we wanted to continue this work, but we also recognized the need to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of our community, of regional partners, and of the new curriculum for Wales.
Over the years, we have continued to host STEM events, but we have also expanded our focus to include entrepreneurship and business development. As a hub for innovation and collaboration, we are dedicated to helping local businesses thrive, and we believe that supporting entrepreneurship is a key part of that.
That’s why we are so excited to announce our Sgill-SParc programmes. These programmes are designed to offer hands-on learning experiences in entrepreneurship and business development. We currently have 8 programmes, for primary and secondary schools, with a series of 10 sessions in each to ensure a comprehensive learning experience. The topics include Energy, Creative-Digital, Coding, and Entrepreneurship. These will take place in schools, in industry, and at M-SParc, with a focus on the themes of individual schools. We believe that these programmes will help students develop important skills that will be valuable in any STEM career path they choose. Each one has been approved by industry and by schools, and with full support from Local Authorities.
One of the unique features of our Skill-SParc programmes is that they will be delivered in Welsh. We believe that it’s important to support the Welsh language and culture, and we want to make sure that students have access to high-quality learning experiences in their first language.
Skill-SParc also includes our Digital and Egni events for adults, that anyone can join, and our Skills Academy, a programme to support individuals to get work in industry.
I’m so proud to be a part of this initiative, and to collaborate with colleagues Pryderi and Tanya to develop and promote the scheme. The support has been overwhelmingly positive, and to be able to share the idea and work with everyone is so exciting. We can’t wait to see children change the way the interact with STEM, and ensure people across north Wales really feel they can take advantage of the career opportunities emerging in the region.
Thanks to the RSP and also our tenants for being so open about the skills gap discussion; it’s through these valuable conversations that we’ve been able to ensure Skill-SParc really does meet the requirements of industry.
We are excited about the future of M-SParc and the impact that we can have on our community. By offering high-quality STEM, entrepreneurship, and business development programmes, we hope to inspire the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. And by delivering these programmes in Welsh, we hope to promote and support the Welsh language and culture. I can’t wait to see it all come together!