The next 10 years in education, tech & employment starts today.

Are we prepared?

UK wide, jobs in digital companies are growing by 28%, year on year, with over 1 million vacancies advertised in 2014

By 2020 there will be more people self-employed in the creative industries than the public sector, mainly driven by opportunities created by tech

We KNOW ideas and innovation flourish better in a more diverse talent pool...

Yet less than 20% of the current UK ICT workforce is female

The divide starts in under-representation of girls in STEM subjects, at GCSE and above

Research shows that 60% of 12 year old girls think STEM subjects are too hard, reducing the likelihood that they will choose them at GCSE

But it’s also about creating equality in the public tech sphere: “73% of women experience trolls online” Laura Fairfax, 15, student ThinkNation speaker, 5 Dec 2015

Think STEAM, not STEM

We need to end to the false binary between science and the arts at school

The emerging tech, digital and opportunities divide: 21% of Britain’s population lack basic digital skills to realise benefits of the internet

At least 20% of UK adults have NO access to the internet at home

The employment singularity:

It is estimated that 35% of all workers in the UK will lose jobs due to tech innovation

“I completed 35 websites by the time I was 13... When you are young you don't have preconceptions and just go out and do it” Ben Towers, EntrepreneurThinkNation speaker, 5 Dec 2015

The opportunity divide:

“We live in a world of 'haves' and 'have nots', and access to opportunities from a young age is what makes the difference”Ash, 22. Homeless. Supported by Porchlight charity.ThinkNation speaker, 5 Dec 2015

The opportunity divide:

Thank you

• 1. Women in UK STEM workforce: ◦ https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/

resources/2015/09/women-in-the-stem-workforce

◦ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150917005029/en/Accenture-Finds-12-Year-Old-Girls-UK-Ireland-STEM

• 2. Creative jobs/workforce: ◦ http://ccskills.org.uk/supporters/blog/

freelancing-and-the-future-of-creative-jobs

• 3. Employment singularity:• http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/

nov/07/artificial-intelligence-homo-sapiens-split-handful-gods

• 4. 2020 self employed in creative sector vs public sector: ◦ http://ccskills.org.uk/supporters/blog/9-

trends-in-creative-employment

◦ http://www.demos.co.uk/files/DEMOS_GoingitAlone_web.pdf?1409503024

• 5. Examples of STEAM initiatives: ◦ UK NESTA - http://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/

fix-pipeline-steam-talent-creative-economy◦ UK - http://www.steamco.org.uk/why/◦ UK - http://

www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/images/uploads/STEAM_report.pdf

◦ US - http://steam-notstem.com/◦ US - http://stemtosteam.org/

• 6. Digital inclusion/exclusion: ◦ https://www.gov.uk/government/

publications/government-digital-inclusion-strategy/government-digital-inclusion-strategy

Photos: ThinkNation/Holly Webb