Tomorrow’s technology stars need more support to fulfil their talent. According to new research by Gadget Show Live, the UK’s largest technology exhibition, held at the NEC Birmingham, more than nine in ten parents in the West Midlands have a child showing interest in pursuing a career in technology, but over a third aren’t confident giving advice to support those aspirations.
Parents surveyed were overwhelmingly positive about encouraging their children to consider a career in technology – nearly all would (97.8%), but just one in five (21.7%) feel they have strong enough knowledge to provide guidance. Three quarters (74.4%) would rely on the internet for help.
The top benefits of tech careers for children, parents say, are the sheer range of options available (77.7%), the interesting and creative jobs on offer (60%) and employer demand for those with high levels of tech knowledge and skills (58.3%).
But despite their enthusiasm, parents identify some major barriers to their children pursuing a tech-related career, the biggest being poor quality careers advice at school (63.5%), a lack of awareness of the breadth of careers that involve technology (59.7%), and not taking the right subjects (STEM) to pursue a tech career (52.7%).
Industry has a vital part to play in inspiring young people into tech careers, those surveyed said. Work experience opportunities (78.2%), curriculum visits (73.3%) and having interesting tech co’s visit schools to ‘show and tell’ what they do (71.7%) were identified as being more important motivational factors than family encouragement (57.6%) and advice from school (55.9%).
Careers Day at Gadget Show Live takes place on Thursday 31st March at the NEC and is aimed at children and parents, school groups and teachers, youth groups and leaders. The day is designed to provide practical, up-to-the-minute advice with experts from leading STEM campaigning organisations and a line-up of inspiring young tech stars.
Gadget Show Live Event Director Sally Bent commented: “National IT skills shortages are widely and regularly reported as a barrier to economic growth, yet our research shows there is no shortage of children that enjoy STEM subjects at school and that aspire to pursue careers in technology. What is clear is that many parents want more support to feel they are giving their children the very best careers advice. They are saying that schools and the tech industry could be doing much more to nurture children’s early enthusiasm for STEM subjects throughout later school stages, in order to give them a better understanding of the vast range of exciting technology career opportunities available.”
Gadget Show Live takes place from 31st March - 3rd April at the NEC Birmingham. It offers a host of content aimed at children including robot-building workshops, cutting-edge designs from home-grown inventors, hands on building workshops and the latest gadgets and consumer technology trends. Tickets are on sale now at www.gadgetshowlive.net.
