We are proud to have launched ‘P & M for STEM’, an initiative encouraging more young people to consider a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Building on the passion of four women who have all completed the Stemazing Inspiration Academy, they are now actively delivering fun experiments to local school children. The engaging sessions present pupils with positive role models and introduce tomorrow’s problem solvers to the wonder of STEM.
At The P & M Group we are commited to community outreach as part of our sustainability strategy. Since 2021 we have worked with Stemazing, an award-winning social enterprise that empowers women in STEM and inspires primary-aged children through visible role models and interactive learning. We are now taking that work to the next level by launching P & M for STEM, a network dedicated to ensuring that we extend our positive impacts and maximise the opportunities to engage with our sector’s future workforce.
Delivering positive social outcomes
Our Group Sustainability Manager Joanne Swift was part of the very first Stemazing Academy cohort. She volunteered her time to undertake training and self-development, culminating in the delivery of a 6-week online STEM programme for children aged 7 to 9. Three other women from The P & M Group have since completed the programme and have joined Joanne in forming the P & M for STEM network.
Joanne explains: "We want to maximise our impacts through an ongoing commitment to STEM engagement. The idea is to build partnerships with schools and inspire pupils to explore opportunities in STEM. We want to create a proven model that we can scale – both local to our head office and in the communities around the country where we operate.”
The first partnership is with Brockworth Primary Academy, where the team have run fortnightly workshops for a targeted group of 30 pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6, including children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The sessions began in May, each including a dynamic activity, such as building straw rocket blasters to demonstrate Newton’s laws of physics and the principles of engineering design, and designing paper structures to test strength and resource use. These sessions aim not only to make science exciting but also to link the experiments to real-world applications.
Looking ahead, there are already plans to open the opportunity to others across the business regardless of gender, and to expand the number of schools the Group partners with. With two more employees currently going through the Stemazing Academy, foundations are in place for a wider rollout. In the future, the team also intends to design their own experiments that tie more closely to P & M’s core business and sustainability themes.
“We are proud to be supporting not just primary education, but our own people’s development too. Stemazing’s Inspiration Academy gives women the confidence to put themselves out there and contribute more to their company’s progress and success, as well as to deliver the sessions to schools. This initiative is about long-term relationships, creating visibility, and encouraging children from all backgrounds to see a future for themselves in engineering and construction.”
See it to be it
Women still only account for 26% of the global STEM workforce. If we are to overcome some of the world’s greatest challenges, we need to inspire changemakers from all genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. Stemazing is tackling the issue by inspiring more girls to become scientists and engineers with the help of female role models from across the industry.
The Stemazing programme has already achieved impressive outcomes. More than 600 women have completed the Inspiration Academy, collectively delivering more than 160,000 engagements with children across the UK. The programme has evolved since the early cohorts – now offering mentoring support to newcomers and encouraging long-term partnerships with businesses like The P & M Group.
“What P & M is doing is music to my ears. It’s the dream scenario – to see a partner take what they’ve gained from the programme and make it their own. P & M are setting the standard for what meaningful, empowered outreach can look like. They’re taking ownership, expanding impact, and tailoring the approach to their industry and values. It’s the very definition of the ripple effect, and I’m incredibly excited to see where it goes next.”
Joanne was invited to speak as a spokesperson at one of their STEMAZING webinars, where the initiative was showcased as a best-practice case study. As the Group continues to align its community outreach with its broader sustainability and ESG goals, P & M for STEM will serve as a cornerstone for building skills, confidence, and curiosity, whilst inspiring tomorrow’s talent.