Sci-Tech Daresbury and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's public engagement activities have won a national award.

The organisations were given the inaugural Future of Work award at the UK Science Park Association's 40th anniversary awards.

This was in recognition of their efforts to develop STEM talent across the north west, including their RADAR strategy launched five years ago to help companies on the Liverpool City Region campus attract and retain the talent they need.

Their commitment extended to a project involving 3,700 young people in Halton from November 2022 to July 2024, reaching over 50 per cent of local primary schools.

The project, co-created by STFC's public engagement officer Gina Czarnecki and Sci-Tech Daresbury, engaged with 2,994 children and 138 teachers through 100 events.

Ms Czarnecki said: "I’m really excited to have the work we have been doing in Halton recognised by UKSPA.

"The recognition is a testament to the great collaboration efforts between STFC, Sci-Tech Daresbury, and the Halton community.

"The project has focused on creating enriching experiences and opportunities for young people across Halton, and this award highlights the positive impact of our work."

The project has already inspired five participating schools to set up their own coding clubs and 34 schools to incorporate the project's activity resources into their teaching.

As a result, young people in Halton are considering future opportunities linked to their newfound skills in coding and creative making.

Councillor Stef Nelson, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for environment and renewal, said: "This award is great news as it is recognition for the excellent partnership working and commitment to supporting Halton’s young people to consider careers in STEM, improving opportunities for local people and helping companies at Sci-Tech Daresbury attract the skilled employees they need."

Sci-Tech Daresbury has also established a strategic further education partnership with Riverside College in Widnes, supporting A-Level students as they choose their university degrees.

More than 10 companies on the campus have participated, showcasing their work to 130 students and providing insights into their technology careers.

The college has also supported the STFC apprenticeship programme through its delivery of engineering apprenticeships, which has launched more than 400 careers since its inception in 1992.

To further promote young talent, Sci-Tech Daresbury has hosted an annual University Fair for 10 years, welcoming regional universities from Manchester, Liverpool, and Lancaster to the campus.

The campus's holistic approach to tackling the talent challenge has seen only 31 per cent of companies at Sci-Tech Daresbury state that their growth is constrained by a lack of skills, compared to the UK average of 78 per cent.

John Leake, business growth director at Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: "It’s such an honour to take home this Future of Work award for our work alongside our JV partners, Langtree, STFC, and Halton Borough Council, in bringing science and technology to life for young people across Halton and the wider region.

"It is encouraging to see the impact that our five-year journey with our RADAR strategy has made, helping our companies increase their potential to attract, develop, and retain the talent they need, facilitating their ability to scale more rapidly.

"Here at Sci-Tech Daresbury, we believe in harnessing the collective power and knowledge of the companies on campus to make a real difference in local communities, as well as inspiring the next generation to pursue rewarding careers in science and technology.

"This accomplishment encourages us to continue to break new ground with our RADAR strategy, using our campus ecosystem and partnerships to bolster young talent, increase companies' capabilities, and create opportunity wherever possible."