TeenTech® kicks off for the second time in Wales at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea on 14th May to show hundreds of teenagers that exciting career opportunities in science, technology and engineering really do have the ‘X Factor’! will

At TeenTech® Cymru, Welsh students spend the day taking part in ‘hands on’ experiments and challenges with engineers and scientists from 30 national and international companies led by BBC presenter and founder Maggie Philbin.

TeenTech® is an award winning, industry-­‐led initiative founded in 2008, uniting technology companies with education, business and professional organisations to create an immersive, interactive event that has been running nationwide. 

Now, thanks to funding from Welsh Government’s National Science Academy, the enthusiasm and dedication of key employers and invaluable help from delivery partners Technocamps and Swansea University, this is set to be a day that changes minds. Schools and local businesses are being invited to take part.

“We are delighted to be back in Wales” says Maggie – “partnering with Technocamps and Airbus to deliver events that really change perceptions about careers in Science and Technology. It’s been really exciting to see the long term effect of the events with students going on to develop successful projects of their own. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with the students, teachers and tech companies for these stimulating events”

TeenTech is inviting more local businesses to join the interactive event to make contact with their future employees and influence their career choices in the Science, Technology and Engineering sectors.

Professor Faron Moller, Director of Technocamps at Swansea University: “TeenTech® events have made a significant impact in England and so Technocamps is delighted to be working with Maggie again this year to run this fantastic event.. The young people who have already engaged with the Technocamps project have acquired vital programming skills and this event will provide the opportunity for them to really see what opportunities are out there for them in this exciting industry.”

Aimed at the over 12’s (Year 8) the event aims to widen participation and raise aspirations for students and teachers. It will also explore different industries and career possibilities with over 30 employers in Science, Technology and Engineering offering intriguing encounters and practical challenges.

Supporters include Airbus Defense and Space, BBC Wales , Sony, Universities of Swansea and South Wales, Engineering Education Scheme Wales, and See Science to convince young people that acquiring the right skills can be the key to an interesting and well paid future.

What they think!

Lisa, Aged 12: “I always thought scientists were quite tall with glasses and boring…and old...and usually men. But here, they’re so full of life and funny.”

Ollie, Aged 12: “I really enjoyed being allowed to be creative and think for myself and come up with my own ideas. I do have a tendency to take things apart and my Dad gets a bit cross about that normally.”

Year 8 Teacher: “Not only did the students enjoy the day and come away enthused but so did I. It was great getting to know about cutting-edge technology.”

TeenTech on BBC News  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18416111

TeenTech at Cisco House on BBC

Click  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9744001.stm

Press Contact:

Karen Thomas – TeenTech® -­‐ 07967 320944 karen@teentechevent.com

Siân Jones – Technocamps – 01792 606652 communications@technocamps.com

Business Booking Contact:

Roland Allen – TeenTech -­‐ 07710 371195 roland@teentechevent.com

Web site: http://www.teentechevent.com

 In 2014 TeenTech® will run in 12 regions across the UK reaching over 400 schools and 4,000 students.

 Co-­‐founded by Maggie Philbin and Chris Dodson OBE, Chairman of the South England Region of the Institute of Directors who worked with Berkshire Education Business Partnerships, companies and business organisations to create a very special experience for young people in 2008.

The event won Best Engineering Event in Science and Engineering Week

2010. In 2011 it was the only UK organisation to receive a Google RISE award. In 2012 Maggie Philbin and TeenTech won the Best Outreach and Communication Award at the WISE Awards (Women in Science and Engineering).

TeenTech is supported by leading global organisations such as Airbus, Cisco, BBC, Symantec, RIM (BlackBerry), Sony Europe, CPC, Syngenta, Atkins and Google but also showcases the work of regional companies and start-­‐ups.

At TeenTech events, over 120 scientists, technologists and engineers bring along their enthusiasm and their very latest technology in a mission to shift out-­‐dated pre-­‐conceptions of wild haired, middle-­‐aged men in white coats.

Research shows this carefully organised day helps teenagers refocus their thinking about school subject choices and career paths they never knew existed. At the beginning of an event in Berkshire, only 40% of students were interested in these careers. But by the end of the day 81% said they were “very” or “fairly interested”.

Technocamps

 Backed by £3.9 million from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, the ITWales project delivers a series of outreach programmes to schools,  colleges  and  other  educational  providers  within  the  convergence area of Wales, inspiring young people to consider the computing-­‐based topics underpinning  the  STEM  subjects  (Science,  Technology,   Engineering   and Mathematics). Technocamps has the long-­‐term goal of  encouraging them to pursue careers in an area that will drive economic growth in Wales.

Technocamps is led by Swansea University in partnership with the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor and University of South Wales.  Swansea University is a world-­‐class research-­‐led university. By 2015 the University will have a new Science and Innovation Campus to complement an upgraded Singleton Park Campus. Visit www.swansea.ac.uk . Swansea University is a registered charity. No. 1138342.