{"id":7555,"date":"2019-02-25T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/?p=7555"},"modified":"2019-02-26T10:50:12","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T10:50:12","slug":"young-girls-stem-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/education\/2019\/02\/25\/young-girls-stem-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiring young girls to pursue STEM careers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8317\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner.png\" alt=\"Blogger Series graphic showing a group of young girls using technology for a school project.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-330x186.png 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Sarah-H-blog-banner-400x225.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week my nine-year-old niece challenged me to a coding competition. We would both design a bird feeder using BBC micro:bits and arts and crafts materials, and my brother-in-law would choose a winner. The week before, the challenge was to design an accessible doorbell. And the week before that was a traffic light. Those of you familiar with Microsoft\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/athome\/digitalskills\/discover\/#maker\">MakerChampion challenges<\/a> should recognise that we\u2019re quickly working our way through! And for those of you who are unfamiliar with the projects, MakerChampion challenges are a series of activities that encourage young people to use micro:bit to respond to real world challenges with the aim of inspiring young children to pursue STEM careers so we can address the digital skills gap.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampion2-e1549889928905.png\" alt=\"MakerChampion2\" width=\"568\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampion2-e1549889928905.png 568w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampion2-e1549889928905-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampion2-e1549889928905-330x153.png 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampion2-e1549889928905-400x185.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When we first launched the MakerChampion challenges two years ago, my niece could not have been less interested. My attempts to engage her usually failed, and the micro:bit stocking present was relegated to under her bed for over a year. Drama was life for this seven-year-old, and no charm or coaxing would change that.<\/p>\n<p>However, as luck would have it, I managed to find a way to combine the two \u2013 drama and coding \u2013 when the latest tranche of MakerChampion projects needed an actress to face the campaign. While the lure of a real life filming experience was what actually got my niece to Microsoft UK headquarters one Saturday morning; it was the resulting discovery that coding is <em>fun <\/em>that has since filled my weekends with questions about technology, requests for Minecraft games, and coding competitions.<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7645\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects.png\" alt=\"Various MakerChampions projects using BBC micro:bit to create a doorbell, craft a light up festival mask and water crops\" width=\"1243\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects.png 1243w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-300x45.png 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-768x116.png 768w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-1024x155.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-330x50.png 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-800x121.png 800w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/MakerChampon-projects-400x60.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1243px) 100vw, 1243px\" \/><span style=\"color: #1f1f1f;font-family: inherit;font-size: 22px\">Young girls\u2019 perceptions of STEM<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One possible reason for this shift in attitude is that my niece was finally able to see coding in a creative context. By placing the micro:bit (which, admittedly, looks slightly baffling in isolation) in the wider context of creating a wearable pedometer, or personalising trainers with flashing lights, she was able to see that everyday things she considered \u2018creative\u2019 are actually powered by technology. And that developing technology through coding can be fun.<\/p>\n<p>A recent Microsoft report found that 91% of the 1,000 girls and young women interviewed described themselves as creative and stressed the importance of creativity in any future career.<a href=\"https:\/\/query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com\/cms\/api\/am\/binary\/RE1UMWz\">[1]<\/a> But very few of those same girls believed that STEM subjects were creative. As a result, few were interested in finding out more about any STEM subject let alone pursuing a career in one.<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9BvZ9ccHOYI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7582 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe.png\" alt=\"Philip Joe, User Experience Architect, Microsoft: &quot;Coding should be right next to the crayons and the pencil box. Its just another tool that they use to express themselves, to explore their world.&quot;\" width=\"2000\" height=\"779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe.png 2000w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-768x299.png 768w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-1024x399.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-330x129.png 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-800x312.png 800w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Phillip-Joe-400x156.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a>When placed in the wider context of the UK\u2019s growing digital skills shortage, the fact that girls do not see STEM subjects as a viable career is something the tech industry needs to urgently address. More than 500,000 highly skilled workers will be needed to fill digital roles by 2022. That is three times the number of UK computer science graduates from the past ten years \u2013 only 5% of which have been female.<\/p>\n<h2>Closing the digital skills gap<\/h2>\n<p>This growing skills gap was one of the reasons Microsoft UK launched its national digital skills programme in 2017. An initiative to provide free courses and resources for everyone, whether they are digital novices or IT professionals. The Digital Skills Programme aims to accelerate the rate at which citizens, both young and old, can develop the digital skills and qualifications they need.<\/p>\n<p>But closing the skills gap requires the tech sector to improve its talent diversity. This is a topic close to the heart of Microsoft UK\u2019s CEO, Cindy Rose. She talks a lot about the economic and commercial benefits relating to increasing gender diversity in the workplace, citing research that suggests that this could add as much as 11% to the world\u2019s GDP by 2025. While an organisation with 30% female leadership could increase profitability by 15%. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/business-functions\/operations\/our-insights\/operations-blog\/the-digital-skills-revolution\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7576 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165.jpg\" alt=\"Cindy Rose, UK CEO, talking to schoolgirls at the DigiGirlz event\" width=\"4915\" height=\"2562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165.jpg 4915w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-768x400.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-1024x534.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-330x172.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-800x417.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/5c6155359461e-5c6155359461fCindy-Rose-Microsoft-UK-CEO-chats-to-schoolgirls-at-the-DigiGirlz-event.jpg-e1549882782165-400x209.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4915px) 100vw, 4915px\" \/>Encouraging young girls to think about STEM careers<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1.4rem\">Improving the gender balance in technology roles is critical but requires us to think outside the box when it comes engaging young girls. We need to challenge their perceptions and show that technology can be a creative career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s vision is to increase the number of girls considering digital careers and to support those young women through their working lives. The MakerChampion challenges and #MakeWhatsNext video series aim to engage girls at a younger age. While DigiGirlz camps and the Digital Skills Programme equip young women with the tools and mentors they need to succeed. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/athome\/digitalskills\/apply\/\">apprenticeship programme<\/a> provides young students with an alternative route into a technical role too, combining hands-on learning experiences with qualification-led training to help them develop the digital skills they need to succeed in the future of work.<\/p>\n<p>To celebrate International Women\u2019s Day this year, we will be equipping our employees to deliver MakerChampion sessions at various schools across the UK to help inspire young girls to pursue STEM subjects and consider a career in technology. But we can&#8217;t face the digital skills gap alone. We need your help too. Why not organise a session at a school near you?<\/p>\n<h2>Get involved<\/h2>\n<p>[msce_cta layout=&#8221;image_center&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; linktype=&#8221;blue&#8221; imageurl=&#8221;https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Digital-Skills-IWD-e1549882457480.png&#8221;  linkurl=&#8221;https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/athome\/digitalskills\/women-in-tech\/&#8221; linkscreenreadertext=&#8221;Get involved: Inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers&#8221; linktext=&#8221;Inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers&#8221; imageid=&#8221;7570&#8243; ][\/msce_cta]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-7342 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley.jpg\" alt=\"Sarah Hedley, Microsoft UK National Skills Lead and Public Sector Business Manager\" width=\"181\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley-250x250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley-330x330.jpg 330w, https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/SarahHedley-400x400.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>About the author<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: inherit;font-size: 1.4rem\">Sarah is the National Skills Lead at Microsoft UK, working with schools, partners, and customers to help address the technical skills shortage in the UK. She is focused on helping to grow the talent pipeline by encouraging young people to think about careers in the tech industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com\/cms\/api\/am\/binary\/RE1UMWz\">Closing the STEM Gap\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/business-functions\/operations\/our-insights\/operations-blog\/the-digital-skills-revolution\">McKinsey &amp; Company and the Peterson Institute<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To close the digital skills gap, the tech sector needs to improve its talent diversity, inspiring more young girls to pursue STEM careers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":238,"featured_media":8320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"post_tag":[160,289,373,223],"content-type":[],"coauthors":[379],"class_list":["post-7555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-blogger-series","tag-digital-skills","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-skills"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - 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