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A new youth-driven fund to support young people to progress from Further Education into careers in STEM.
Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation have joined forces to launch the STEM Pathways Fund – a £500,000 joint-funding partnership that will invest in organisations supporting young people aged 16–19 in Further Education (FE) to successfully transition into careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The fund will prioritise young people across England in challenging circumstances and those facing the greatest barriers to opportunity, recognising that too many talented young people miss out on careers in STEM because of systemic barriers – not due to lack of their potential.
The FE sector plays a vital role in developing the UK’s future STEM talent, providing the technical education, apprenticeships and vocational pathways needed to meet growing demand for STEM skills. Around 1.7 million young people aged 16–19 study in FE settings in England, with almost 45% coming from disadvantaged backgrounds – yet many receive significantly less careers and progression support than their peers in schools and higher education, despite being at a critical transition point. Despite playing such a crucial role in preparing the future STEM workforce, the FE sector has experienced years of underinvestment and financial pressure, limiting colleges’ capacity to provide high-quality careers support.
Without sustained support, such as mentoring, high quality work experience, access to role models or increased understanding of the STEM opportunities, many young people struggle to navigate the next step, limiting their progression into STEM pathways.
By focusing on FE, the fund will invest in organisations across England that strengthen transitions into STEM employment, apprenticeships, higher education and technical training, while addressing the systemic barriers that prevent young people from progressing into STEM careers.
“At a time when nearly 1 million 16 to 24 year olds are NEET, it is more important than ever for young people to be equipped with the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to build successful futures. In particular, ensuring those facing the greatest barriers and disadvantages are supported to progress from Further Education into fulfilling STEM careers.
As Youth Advisors, our role is to work alongside Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation to help identify the transition support that we believe can have the greatest impact on young people’s lives. Professional expertise is vital, but so is youth voice. By bringing our lived experience into decision-making, we can help ensure this fund invests in opportunities that are equitable, meaningful and designed with young people in mind.
We know that not every young person has the same opportunities, connections or access. That’s why this fund is so important. It has the potential to remove barriers, open doors and create pathways into STEM for young people who have too often been overlooked”.
A Model For Youth-Driven Funding
The STEM Pathways Fund is the first initiative co-designed by Mission 44’s Youth Advisors, advancing intergenerational philanthropy and creating more equitable, youth-informed approaches to grantmaking.
Rather than designing the fund alone, Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation have worked alongside Mission 44 Youth Advisors to shape its priorities, the application process and decision making approach. Over the coming months, Advisors will continue to play a central role in reviewing applications, making funding recommendations and capturing learning from the pilot.
By capturing and sharing learning from the fund, Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation aim to influence how the corporate sector designs social impact programmes and makes decisions that affect young people.
More info on the STEM Pathways Fund and how to express interest can be found here.
“Too many talented young people face barriers to opportunity, not because of a lack of ambition or ability, but because the systems around them don’t work for everyone. Through our partnership with Santander UK Foundation, we’re investing in organisations that will help more young people successfully transition from Further Education into STEM careers and pathways.
This fund is also about demonstrating what’s possible when young people are trusted as partners in creating change. By placing young people at the heart of funding decisions, we aim to share power across generations and create the conditions for more equitable youth-driven and transformative impact.”
“Every day, thousands of 16- to 19-year-olds in Further Education (FE) are making some of the biggest decisions of their lives, in one of the most extraordinary and overlooked parts of our education system. I’m proud that Santander UK Foundation and Mission 44 have joined forces to put young people in the driving seat to find and fund the interventions that will help them move successfully from FE into STEM pathways, regardless of where they’re starting from.
My hope is that the stories and insights this fund uncovers will ripple far beyond its lifetime, helping many more young people make the most of everything Further Education has to offer, and enter the futures they deserve.”
About Mission 44
Launched by Seven Time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Mission 44 is a charity that is working to build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people. The charity is driving change so that every young person can thrive in education and access great careers in STEM. By funding innovative programmes, connecting changemakers, and campaigning to shift policy and attitudes, Mission 44 is breaking down systemic barriers for underrepresented young people around the world.
About Santander UK Foundation
The Santander UK Foundation is a newly relaunched independent charitable foundation, closely connected to Santander UK, with a single, clear purpose: to improve the lives of 16-19-year-olds who face barriers the system has failed to address and to help them achieve their goals in Further Education.
The Foundation has three interconnected aims: to transform the lives of young people in FE who are facing the most severe challenges; to help the FE sector tell its story powerfully and make the case for the change it deserves; and to be a best-in-class funder. Young people are not just the focus of this work – they are active participants in shaping it.
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