STEM day celebrates launch of new JET partnership with BAE Systems

Jon Egging Trust posted on 18th October 2024

18th Oct 2024: Youth charity Jon Egging Trust (JET) and BAE Systems yesterday hosted a STEM outreach day at RAF Valley for 75 students from Holyhead, Anglesey, to celebrate the launch of their new platinum partnership.

The partnership will see BAE Systems donate £180,000 across the next three years to help JET deliver its programmes in North Wales and Lincolnshire, which harness STEM environments (science, technology, engineering and maths) as a springboard to support young people to build confidence and employability skills, overcome adversity and re-engage with education.

The event took place at RAF Valley, where both JET and BAE Systems operate, with RAF personnel and the teams from JET and BAE Systems delivering inspiring STEM activities to local year 9 students.

The students took part in a round-robin of interactive workshops and STEM challenges including a ‘Roving Robots Quest’, Lego coding, a planetarium show, and the ‘Mach Loop Challenge’ – which saw them fly a virtual Typhoon through the low flying area of Wales in a race against time. Each activity was aimed at building teamwork, leadership and communication skills and highlighting career opportunities linked to aviation and aerospace; themes that are central to the JET’s long-term Blue Skies programmes.

JET CEO, Dr Emma Egging, attended the launch and commended the enthusiasm and creativity of the students. She explained the importance of the event:

“It was fantastic to be part of the launch event and see so many young people engaged in and enthused by the activities and challenges. Many of the students have seen RAF aircraft flying across the Anglesey skies since they were little but have never had the opportunity to visit the airbase or consider what a career in aerospace might mean to them. Breaking down those barriers and giving young people access to inspiring work environments and professional role models is central to our Blue Skies ethos, broadening horizons and, in doing so, changing the course of young lives.

“Having worked with RAF Valley since 2013 we are delighted to celebrate our new platinum partnership with BAE Systems who have supported our programme delivery alongside the RAF on Anglesey for almost a decade, and we look forward to reaching many more young people as a result of this significant, long-term funding commitment.”

Sir Stuart Atha, Director of Training Strategy, BAE Systems Air, and JET Patron, said:

“BAE Systems and JET share an ambition to open young people’s eyes to the world of possibilities a STEM career can offer and we invest heavily in our local communities to support young people’s education.

“The students’ enthusiasm during this outreach day shows how worthwhile our investment is and we’re proud to take this even further by increasing our support for JET’s fantastic Blue Skies programme. Working together, we look forward to helping many more young people realise their potential.”

RAF Valley Station Commander, Group Captain Gez Currie said:

“Few things better exemplify RAF Valley’s ‘one team’ approach and our commitment to being a positive member of the Anglesey community than our engagement with BAE Systems and Jon Egging Trust. RAF Valley is delighted to have hosted this excellent event and to be part of the initiative that JET and BAE are delivering; it has allowed us to have a hugely positive impact on young people in North Wales.”