Sage and the Newcastle Rugby Foundation Tackle STEM Skills Gap In North East

Sage Foundation, the social impact division of Sage, has partnered with Newcastle Rugby Foundation (NRF) to launch a five-week programme called Tackling Insights aimed at making STEM subjects more accessible and engaging for regional school pupils.

The programme, launched at Fawdon Primary School in Newcastle, will involve nine other North East schools and will reach 600 pupils aged 9 to 11, with a particular focus on girls.

Sage is the Official Insights Partner to Six Nations Rugby and will use data and insights provided by the smart ball technology, currently used for the first time in both the Guinness Six Nations and the TikTok Women’s Six Nations championships, to show the power of STEM in sport.

By working with NRF, Sage hopes the partnership will bridge the skills gap in STEM subjects among young people, including those facing barriers to learning and playing the sport. The initiative will also touch on the sport’s core values, such as teamwork, respect, discipline, and sportsmanship.

The programme will culminate in a celebration and an exclusive stadium tour at Kingston Park, coinciding with the opening TikTok Women’s Six Nations Red Roses match on 25th March, and a rugby taster day on 30th March.

According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, 43pc of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) vacancies are hard to fill. This is mainly down to a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience. So Sage, is hoping this initiative will help tackle the gap.

Cadence Willis, VP of Sage Foundation, said: “Sage has an important role to play in not only plugging the skills gap by inspiring young people to consider careers in STEM. This means developing programmes and partnering with brilliant organisations, such as NRF, to make STEM accessible and fun.”

Melanie Magee, head of Newcastle Rugby Foundation, said: “Combining the inspirational event at Kingston Park as England’s Red Roses take on Scotland in the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations, while using the exciting smart ball technology, alongside the schools’ sessions, is a unique way to promote STEM learning in schools. We know this project will make a positive difference to hundreds of the region’s young people.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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