STEM Industries: Female Workforce

3. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the female workforce within STEM industries.

Across Government, we are supporting a number of initiatives to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. We have a target of 35% women’s participation in the advanced manufacturing sector. We are investing £18.2 million to ensure under-represented groups get the maths support they need in schools, and are working with schools to support them in developing a triple-science offer for all pupils ahead of introducing a statutory entitlement. A successful STEM sector is a diverse one, and it starts with inspiring the girls of today.

Thanks to this Government embracing AI, constituencies such as Airdrie and Shotts are seeing substantial investment in data centres, which will create jobs and reindustrialise former industrial heartlands. On National Engineering Day, does the Minister agree that this Government’s commitment to vocational training and apprenticeships will open more doors for young women in towns and cities across the country to join the STEM workforce and lead the AI revolution?

My hon. Friend speaks from experience in education, and he is absolutely right. We are investing £187 million in our TechFirst programme to bring digital skills and AI learning into classrooms and communities, while 7.5 million workers are set to gain essential AI skills through our industry partnership. Training will open up opportunities in constituencies such as Airdrie and Shotts, and put women and girls at the centre of the AI revolution. I commend his work in this area.

Does the Minister seriously believe that cutting funding for the international baccalaureate, a qualification that is proven to keep more girls studying STEM subjects, will help increase the number of women entering STEM industries?

An Education Minister will be happy to discuss that with the hon. Lady.