About us

STEM North of Scotland is an initiative developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to increase the number of young people with STEM qualifications to ensure a skilled workforce to support the region’s key sectors: energy, life sciences, food and drink, financial and business services and the creative industries.

To achieve this aim HIE has entered into partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) to deliver a 45 month contract from July 2011 to March 2015 with national body STEMNET. This contract includes management of the STEM Ambassadors programme and delivery of the STEM Schools Advisory Network. The contract covers 74 secondary schools in six local authority areas: Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute, Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.

STEM Ambassadors

The purpose of the STEM Ambassadors Programme is to provide a ready-made, free resource for teachers to draw industry expertise into the classroom. 

STEM Ambassadors come from a broad spectrum of STEM disciplines and careers at all levels. These Ambassadors act as invaluable role models to young people and provide an inspiring real life perspective of STEM careers. Ambassadors are involved in classroom activities and projects, careers fairs, STEM Clubs and Young Engineers and Science Clubs.

There are currently around 500 STEM Ambassadors in the Highlands and Islands from a diverse range of more than 120 companies.

Find out more about the STEM Ambassadors Programme.

STEM Schools Advisory Network

The STEM Schools Advisory Network is managed by the University of the Highlands and Islands. Its purpose is to provide resources and support to schools to enrich and enhance the curriculum and to encourage use of STEM Ambassadors. For further information contact stem@uhi.ac.uk

STEM Projects

In addition to managing the STEMNET contract, Highlands and Islands Enterprise manages a number of projects designed to enthuse and excite young people in STEM subjects at an early age.

Over the past three years we have provided renewable energy toolkits to and trained teachers in nearly 400 primary schools, helping young people to understand the basics about each type of renewable energy.

We provide financial support to SCDI’s Young Engineers and Science Clubs, allowing them to appoint a project coordinator in the region and helping to build and support their network of clubs. 

And, we work closely with the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA) who share our commitment to advancing the STEM agenda. Through this relationship we have promoted the Do Something Creative. Do Science. Campaign; provided training for teachers in using K’Nex to encourage a new generation of engineers and developed a network of STEM clubs giving young people the time and resources to explore topical science.

Find out more about these projects here.