More than 3,000 North East schoolchildren will be given the opportunity to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at an even in Newcastle later this year.
STEMFest Net Zero, which will be held at St James’ Park in July, is a three-day exhibition that aims to connect nine to 13-year-olds with companies providing job opportunities in the North East.
The event is being sponsored by Sage and and coordinated by the North East STEM Hub in partnership with Newcastle United Foundation’s innovative NU Futures programme. Sponsorship has also come from Jacobs and Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Claire Willis, business development manager for the North East STEM Hub, said: “I am delighted that Jacobs and Dogger Bank Wind Farm have chosen to be part of this key event. There are so many North East companies working in this sector which our future workforce aren’t aware of. Through this event, we aim to enthuse and engage young people in STEM, highlight not only the companies, but also the various career paths open to these young people, right on their doorstep.”
Hundreds of businesses from across the North East have backed County Durham’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2025.
Almost £500,000 in sponsorship has also been pledged towards the Durham 2025 campaign, while other businesses have volunteered skills and time to help develop and raise awareness of the bid.
Among those offering help is Go North East, which has wrapped one of its buses with Durham 2025 branding.
Managing director Martijn Gilbert said: “We’re delighted to be showing our support for the Durham 2025 bid with our very own branded bus. The bus will help raise awareness of the bid across the region, shining a light on everything that County Durham has to offer.”
The makers of Primula Cheese have made donations of £20,000 to a number of North East charities.
The donations to 4Louis, The Bradley Lowry Foundation, Success4all, Together Forever Trust and Feeding Families come from the Kavli Trust, which makes Primula on Gateshead’s Team Valley and gives all of its profits to charity.
Gareth Watson, brand manager at Primula Cheese said: “At Primula, sharing is at the heart of everything we do. We are delighted to have allocated £20,000 to great causes in the North East.
“In particular, Succes4all will receive funding to support its work with often disadvantaged children. A key area of Primula’s charitable funding is within children’s mental health and providing communities with the tools they need to prosper. We hope that this donation will help individuals, and in turn, their communities to thrive.”
The Original Factory Shop in Ashington has partnered with disability charity Sense to support people with complex disabilities living in Newcastle.
Customers at the shop will be able to donate clothes and toys in-store that will be donated to sell in Sense’s charity shops. Proceeds from all donations will go towards the work of the charity, which supports disabled people and their families living in the community.
The Original Factory Shop brand and customer director Oliver Peck said: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Sense to offer this service to communities across 20 stores in the country. Their vision of a world where no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is left out, isolated or unable to fulfil their potential is something we feel inspired to help them achieve across our shared communities.”
