A new youth-driven fund to support young people to progress from Further Education into careers in STEM.
Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation have joined forces to launch the STEM Pathways Fund - a £500,000 joint-funding partnership that will invest in organisations supporting young people aged 16–19 in Further Education (FE) to successfully transition into careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The fund will prioritise young people across England in challenging circumstances and those facing the greatest barriers to opportunity, recognising that too many talented young people miss out on careers in STEM because of systemic barriers - not due to lack of their potential.
The FE sector plays a vital role in developing the UK's future STEM talent, providing the technical education, apprenticeships and vocational pathways needed to meet growing demand for STEM skills. Around 1.7 million young people aged 16–19 study in FE settings in England, with almost 45% coming from disadvantaged backgrounds - yet many receive significantly less careers and progression support than their peers in schools and higher education, despite being at a critical transition point. Despite playing such a crucial role in preparing the future STEM workforce, the FE sector has experienced years of underinvestment and financial pressure, limiting colleges' capacity to provide high-quality careers support.
Without sustained support, such as mentoring, high quality work experience, access to role models or increased understanding of the STEM opportunities, many young people struggle to navigate the next step, limiting their progression into STEM pathways.
By focusing on FE, the fund will invest in organisations across England that strengthen transitions into STEM employment, apprenticeships, higher education and technical training, while addressing the systemic barriers that prevent young people from progressing into STEM careers.
