The Third SectorDavid ThorpeOperations Director, Myscience

Thursday 25th October 2011

Why a third sector?• Increasing importance in the UK economy

• Declining direct government spend

• Co-Funding – “The Big Society”

• Able to draw on highly subsidized or free resources for benefit of society

• Able to ‘fill the gap’ – do stuff that needs doing that can’t be done commercially

I will illustrate the value of the 3rd Sector by way of example of Myscience

Role of STEMScience, Technology, Engineering, Maths

• As the economy gears up for growth, business will require employees with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills.

• Myscience supports UK PLC, particularly on high value, high growth sectors such as low-carbon, pharmaceutical and digital media, by helping to supply these skills.

Teachers / SchoolsTeachers / Schools

Myscience Support

economic growth

Pupils STEMPupils STEM UK plcUK plc

MyscienceWhy – We all remember our best and

worst teachers

Role – Advance the education of the public through the provision, maintenance and support of the teaching and learning of STEM subjects

How – Company delivers three main programmes:

• National Science Learning Centre• National STEM Centre• Network of Science Learning Centres

Stakeholders – Owned by universities: Leeds, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, York

Funded by Wellcome, government, Gatsby Trust and industry

} The National Centre, York

The business case

1. BP – In July 2011 BP announced a £3bn

investment in re-developing 2 North Sea oil

fields but cannot find employees with

appropriate STEM skills.

2. CBI – August 2011 – Over 40% of

companies say they are having difficulty

recruiting people with STEM skills.

CBIKatja Hall, CBI Chief Policy Director:

“The UK’s economic recovery will rely on businesses being able to access the talent they need to deliver sustainable growth.

As the economy rebalances, we will need more highly-skilled employees, particularly for young people with STEM degrees, but businesses are struggling to recruit good graduates from the UK.”

It is havingan effect

UpdateMyscience has just won a £7m government contract. The purpose is to increase the number of young people that study triple science.

Evidence shows:

• Those who study three sciences are more likely to go on to ‘A’ Level and ultimately pursue STEM careers.

• Activity which targets children from deprived backgrounds has greatest impact.

Thank you.