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Learners in Wales receive bursary to support early careers in electronics

Date: 06.09.2024

Topics: Skills

A group of young award winners stands together holding their certificates in front of a backdrop displaying congratulatory messages for the 2024/2025 Welsh Space e-Award winners. They are joined by event organizers. A banner on the right reads "UK Electronics Skills Foundation. - CSA Catapult

A total of 24 Year 13 students from across Wales have been awarded bursaries to provide support while they complete electronics-related degrees and help them start careers in technology.

Part of the Spark their imagination; power their future’ project funded by Innovate UK and run by Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult and the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF), this bursary programme offers students financial support while at university, access to professional mentoring and learning and development opportunities.

The Welsh Sparc bursary provides £1,000 to Year 13 pupils who have accepted their place to study electronics-related degrees.

A one-off bursary of £1,500 will also be awarded for personal and professional development after a student’s first year of study.

Between 2012 and 2021, the number of Welsh students studying an Electronics and Electrical Engineering (EEE) degree reduced by a third, dropping from 180 to 120.

The Welsh Sparc bursary aims to encourage more young people in Wales to consider a career in electronics. Electrical Engineers are in high demand as technology plays an increasingly important role in our lives, in areas such as smartphone technologies, aerospace, robotics and artificial intelligence.

A scientist in a white lab coat explains a concept to a group of four people in a clean, well-lit laboratory. Equipped with various machines and monitors, the lab creates an atmosphere where the individuals listen attentively. - CSA Catapult

The inaugural 2024/25 Welsh Sparc Award winners recently attended a celebration event at CSA Catapult’s Innovation Centre in South Wales, to learn more about the support their bursaries offer and the exciting career opportunities ahead of them.

Students, parents and teachers heard more information on the bursary and the wider support the UKESF can offer while the students are at university.

The Welsh Sparc Award winners received helpful advice from UKESF alumni, spoke to engineers working at CSA Catapult, and toured state-of-the-art labs developing technology for real-world applications like electric vehicles, clean energy and 5G communications.

A woman wearing gloves speaks in front of a banner that reads

Spark their imagination, power their future is one of many interventions CSA Catapult’s dedicated Skills Academy develops, to bring together education providers, industry, government, charities and parents to inspire and develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“Going on to further study can be daunting. Financial pressure can cause added stress and be a huge deterrent.

“We know that our sector is facing a workforce shortage. We need many engineers with a variety of skills and capabilities from all backgrounds, so schemes and interventions like ours which encourage students are incredibly important.”

Alex Leadley, Skills Academy manager at CSA Catapult

“It was such a privilege to meet these amazing young people, and their families, in person.

“This programme is designed to create a pipeline of future talent into our sector from Wales and these students represent the ‘tip of the arrow.’

“I’m delighted that we have been able to support these 24 students and provide some guidance and encouragement as they embark on their university courses.”

Stewart Edmondson, Chief executive officer of the UKESF