Bridging the Gap: Why Businesses Must Step Up to Tackle the Educational Divide

As both a business leader and the founder of SmartSTEMs — a charity dedicated to ensuring that all young people have equal access to STEM role models — I’ve seen firsthand the impact that opportunity, or the lack of it, can have on a child’s future. In Scotland, we pride ourselves on a strong educational heritage, yet the stark reality remains: a child’s postcode too often dictates their prospects.

The divide in educational attainment between children from affluent backgrounds and those growing up in poverty is glaring. It limits the potential of too many bright young people and diminishes the scope of their opportunity. The challenge we face is not only how to narrow this gap but how businesses can be a driving force for change.

The Power of Opportunity

Research tells us that children aren’t just held back by the experience of poverty itself, but by a lack of exposure to more affluent environments and networks. Children from low-income households face multiple barriers that go beyond the material — they lack the social capital that comes from being surrounded by aspiration, opportunity, and role models who can show them the path to success.

This is where businesses can play a pivotal role. By opening up workplaces, sharing expertise, and connecting young people to professional networks, we can help transform the futures of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The more we expose young people to environments where achievement and innovation are the norm, the more we can raise their aspirations and give them the tools to realise their full potential.

The Responsibility of Business

Education has traditionally been seen as the remit of schools and governments, but business has an essential part to play. Businesses are part of the communities in which we operate, and we rely on a well-educated, capable future workforce. It’s in our interest to ensure all young people have the opportunities they need to succeed, particularly in high-growth sectors like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), where the demand for skills continues to rise.

At SmartSTEMs, our mission is to make sure that every young person, regardless of their background, has the chance to meet and learn from STEM role models. Exposure to role models in science and technology can ignite a passion in young people, but it also shows them that success in these fields is attainable, regardless of where they start. For businesses, this isn’t simply about corporate social responsibility — it’s about investing in the talent pipeline of tomorrow.

Closing the Attainment Gap

In Scotland, efforts like the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) and the Scottish Attainment Challenge have made strides towards addressing the gap in educational outcomes. However, these initiatives cannot be left to government and schools alone. Businesses must step up and act as partners in the drive for equality.

How can we make a difference?

1. Partnerships with Schools: Businesses can form long-term relationships with schools in deprived areas, offering work placements, internships, and career guidance. These partnerships give students invaluable real-world experience and open their eyes to career paths they might not have considered. SmartSTEMs can help build these connections and ensure that they’re not only impactful but ongoing.

2. Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning: Apprenticeships are a key route for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to gain practical skills and secure employment. Businesses can provide these opportunities, helping to build confidence and future career prospects in sectors where there is a skills shortage, such as STEM. Reach out to your local DYW coordinator or get in touch with Skills Development Scotland, for more information on how you can secure some of our next generation of talent for your business.

3. Mentoring and Role Models: Businesses can establish mentoring programmes that connect professionals with students, offering advice, encouragement, and access to networks that might otherwise be beyond their reach. Mentors can play a crucial role in guiding young people through the complex decisions about education and careers. SmartSTEMs regularly supports businesses in setting up these schemes, ensuring both students and mentors get the most from the experience.

4. Addressing Digital Exclusion: The pandemic highlighted the digital divide, where many young people from low-income households were unable to access online learning. Businesses can help by providing devices, internet access, and digital literacy training, ensuring that no child is left behind in an increasingly digital world. At SmartSTEMs, we’ve already seen the difference that improved digital access makes to a child’s education, and we’re keen to work with businesses to expand these efforts.

5. Inspiring STEM Futures: Scotland’s thriving technology and innovation sectors hold the key to future economic growth. Businesses in these areas must engage with schools to inspire the next generation, offering workshops, role models, and exposure to exciting careers that are within reach, no matter a young person’s background. If you’re struggling to access schools, or don’t know where to begin, reach out to the SmartSTEMs team and they can help put you in touch.

Collaboration Is Key

The educational attainment gap isn’t just an issue for schools or government—it’s an issue for society as a whole. For businesses, especially those in high-growth sectors like STEM, there is an undeniable role to play in creating opportunities for the young people who need them most. By stepping up and becoming active partners in education, we can help to level the playing field and ensure that all young people, regardless of where they come from, have the chance to succeed.

Scotland’s future prosperity depends on it. If we want a society where opportunity is equal, where potential is realised, and where talent is nurtured regardless of background, then businesses must be at the forefront of driving this change. The time to act is now.

Stuart Macdonald is founder and CEO of Seric and SmartSTEMs

This article was sponsored by Seric