As the new 2025/2026 school year begins, we’re already looking ahead to the activities that will help young people in Bolton Impact Trust - Youth Challenge explore the world of work. Careers education isn’t just about the future — it’s about giving students the confidence, curiosity, and life skills to start making choices now.

In June, Youth Challenge hosted their annual STEM Week that brought together employers and businesses from five diverse industries, all united by one mission: to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open up the world of work for young people.

What STEM Week Offered Students

Over five days, students experienced workshops, demonstrations, and conversations that helped them:
• Connect classroom learning with real careers
• Develop vital life skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience
• Ask brilliant questions and see how industries really work
• Discover new opportunities — and perhaps even uncover talents they didn’t know they had

Careers don’t just start after school. They start with inspiration, exposure, and opportunity.

Thank You to Our Employer Partners

STEM Week wouldn’t have been possible without the energy, expertise, and generosity of the employers who volunteered their time:

• Alison Cornes & Mark Dearden ACA (Barlow Andrews) – showing budgeting as a skill for life

• Sophia Crilly (MBDA) – engineering curiosity and creativity (with thanks to Becky Simms for organising)

• Phil Jones & Caron Amsbury (Barclays UK) – helping students understand money and digital safety (with thanks to Siobhan Gurrie for organising)

• Tony & Catherine Spink (Neon Creations Ltd) – lighting up science with a spectacular glass-bending demo

• Mathew Whitehouse (RBC Brewin Dolphin) – making wealth planning feel achievable and empowering

  And of course, a huge thank you to the staff and students who embraced the week with energy and openness.

  This is what bridging education and enterprise looks like. This is what inspiring futures feels like.

What’s Next? Opportunities for Employers to Get Involved
We’re now planning the next school year of activities, and we’d love to welcome more employers on board. Whether you’ve volunteered before or this would be your first time, your industry story could be the spark that shapes a young person’s career.

Upcoming opportunities in 2025/26 include:

·       Explore Your Future – Careers Carousel

Wednesday 19 November 2025, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for 12 employers/businesses to showcase their industry and run mock interviews

·       Prep For Success – Mock Interviews

Wednesday 21 January 2026, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for a volunteer to run a preparation session around what to expect and how to prepare for

interviews

Wednesday 28 January 2026, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for 10 volunteers to run 15-minute mock interviews

·       STEM in Action Week

The week of 22 – 26 June 2026
We are looking for 5 employers from STEM industries to showcase their sector, plus 5 employers/businesses to run mock interviews

If you’d like to get involved, please contact Pam Molyneux, Volunteer Special Enterprise Advisor - [email protected] We’d love to hear from you.

When employers and schools work together, young people gain the confidence to imagine new possibilities. STEM Week 2025 proved just that — and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Could you share your industry story with young people? Contact us today to get involved.