As mentors in the Shropshire Star STEM Challenge, we’re aiming to inspire more young people towards careers in science, technology, engineering and maths – all skills that are required in the construction industry.
Managing Director Steven Owen, Commercial Director Victoria Lawson and Design Manager Keeley Fox are advising teams of students at three Shropshire secondary schools who are battling it out to design a product that has a positive benefit to an individual or group and the environment, or just the environment.
Steven is working with Team Optimum at the Sir John Talbot School in Whitchurch, Victoria is providing advice and support to a team from The Grove in Market Drayton and Keeley is sharing her expertise with students at The Marches, Oswestry.
The teams have made their prototypes and are currently working on their presentations in readiness for judging day at the Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology on July 4.
With seven team prizes up for grabs including best team work, best operating model and best work plan, the competition is hotting up among the Pave Aways’ team.
Steven said: “The STEM challenge has been a really fantastic thing to be involved in as part of our wider engagement in the communities where we work.
“We have been genuinely impressed with the innovation and dedication of the young people involved and are very hopeful that, between us, we will have some winners.”
The STEM challenge is just one of the education focused initiatives we’re part of at Pave Aways – we have an active schools and FE work experience programme, give talks to students about construction, and we also sponsor school sports teams.