UKESF and Apple Team Up to Empower Girls in Electronics

Apple is continuing its partnership with the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) programme Girls into Electronics 2024, with the goal of encouraging young girls to explore potential careers in the electronics industry.

Having backed the initiative in the previous year, Apple has expanded its support for the 2024 programme by offering participants the chance to join Apple's Mentorship Programme. This opportunity will allow them to connect with Apple engineers who can provide valuable advice and guidance.

"At Apple, we firmly believe that technology has the power to enhance learning opportunities and we are dedicated to ensuring that all learners have access to the tools they need to dream big and pursue their goals," stated Mari-Anne Chiromo, Apple's Inclusion and Diversity Partnerships Lead for EMEIA.

Chiromo added, "Following our sponsorship of last year's programme, UKESF witnessed a significant increase in participation, and we are eager to surpass those numbers in 2024. Apple is constantly seeking diverse engineering talent, and initiatives like this programme, along with our mentoring scheme, enable us to engage with the engineers of tomorrow."

The Girls into Electronics programme is designed for Year 11 students and sixth-formers and will be conducted at twelve partner universities during the upcoming summer. These universities include Bristol, King’s College London, Leeds, Southampton, and Strathclyde. The Apple Mentorship Programme is set to kick off this autumn and will run for a duration of 3 to 6 months.

The core of the programme is a one-day event hosted at one of the partner universities. Participants will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the field of electronics, learn about studying the subject at the university level, and hear from female graduate engineers who are actively working in the electronics sector.

UKESF noted a growing interest in the Girls into Electronics programme, with the number of female students participating doubling to 400 in 2023 compared to the previous year. Building on this success, the programme aims to inspire hundreds of girls aged 15 to 18 to explore the world of electronics.

"We are beginning to witness the positive impact of the Girls into Electronics programme as more female students are now pursuing Electronics degrees," remarked Stewart Edmondson, CEO of UKESF.

Edmondson continued, "The support from Apple has been invaluable in expanding this crucial programme, and I am thrilled to continue our collaborations with the UK's top universities in 2024. Girls into Electronics serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when we come together to address skills challenges."

Registration for Girls into Electronics 2024 is currently open, with events scheduled to take place in June and July 2024. Schools, individual students, and parents interested in participating can register via the UKESF website.

The award-winning Girls into Electronics initiative, which received the Educational Support Award at the 2023 Elektra Awards, is now entering its third year.

For more information, you can also explore the UKESF report on 'Future Engineering Skills in the Age of AI,' which highlights the potential skills shortage in the UK.