VIDEO: The biggest and most popular schools event in the South East is on target to break attendance records in 2016 whilst helping South East based high-tech businesses address the skills gap and meet their employment needs.
The Big Bang Fair South East 2016 will again be held at The South of England Showground on 29th June. Fair organiser STEM Sussex is delighted to have received an increased number of applications for this year’s event, equating to around 8,500 students and teachers wishing to attend. However, the continuing success to grow this annual interactive engineering and science event depends entirely on the support and involvement of businesses, professional bodies and educational establishments. The event has the scope to accommodate around 12,000 people but STEM Sussex is concerned that unless it is able to attract more support and sponsorship to accommodate the increase in applications, hundreds of students may have to be turned away.
When the Big Bang Fair South East was first held in Crawley in 2012 it attracted about 2,000 young people. Last year’s event was attended by an astounding 7,300 students and teachers from over 140 schools and colleges from across the South East making it the biggest single celebration of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) for young people in the region.
An enjoyable day of hands-on activities, workshops, shows and interactive displays for 9-19-year-olds, provided by national and local companies, professional organisations, and further and higher education institutions, the Fair has played a major part in encouraging more young people to consider further education and careers in STEM disciplines.
As a result of Big Bang fairs across the country, the proportion of 11-14-year-olds who believe a career in engineering to be desirable increased from 27% in 2011 to 43% last year. In the South East, there has been a marked increase in the number of young people studying STEM subjects to A-level since 2012.
A recent report from EngineeringUK highlighted that the UK still needs 182,000 more young people per year with engineering skills – double the number currently entering university or taking up apprenticeships.
Jo McKinney-Green, STEM Sussex Project Manager, said:
“The Big Bang Fair South East is not only a great day out for thousands of young people, it enables employers to show what they are all about and to connect with their future workforce.
Article continues below this advertisement “It has become tremendously popular with schools and colleges since it was launched in 2012 and we have had very valuable support from organisations across the South East region.
“But it has become a victim of its own success, and we now have a waiting list for places at this year’s event. Unfortunately, without further support and sponsorship from local businesses many of those young people will miss out.
“Businesses can support us by providing an activity that showcases their skills and expertise, by sponsoring the event, an activity or prize, or by sending staff to join the army of volunteers needed on the day. Whatever they do, they will find it a rewarding experience.”
The Big Bang Fair South East is organised by STEM Sussex, the not-for-profit outreach department of the University of Brighton, in partnership with Crawley Borough Council and Central Sussex College. The headline sponsor is CGG, the world’s leading geophysical company, and is supported by other major companies such as Thales, Gatwick Airport and Kreston Reeves.
