New partnership promotes STEM to girls on International Women’s Day

Notes to editors

1. The schools attending the event at RBS on 8 March were: Cuiken Primary (Penicuik), Roseburn Primary, Flora Stevenson Primary, CarrickKnowe Primary and St Mary’s Primary (all Edinburgh).
2. There are seven SmartSTEMs events currently planned for this year at venues across Scotland, including RBS, Ayrshire College, the University of the West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University.
3. EDF Energy is Scotland’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, operating Hunterston B in North Ayrshire, Torness in East Lothian and, through our joint venture EDF Energy Renewables, seven windfarms across Scotland. Together these assets generate enough electricity to power almost 4 million homes and employ more than 1,300 people in Scotland. The company supplies 98 per cent of public sector bodies in Scotland after being awarded the country’s largest electricity supply contract by annual volume from April 2013. EDF Energy has also more than 200,000 customer accounts in Scotland and has launched its own innovation accelerator, Blue Lab, which focuses on making customers’ lives easier. Through its Better Energy Ambitions, EDF Energy has developed comprehensive environmental and social programmes which have been recognised by a wide range of organisations. EDF Energy also runs the Pretty Curious programme which encourages girls to consider STEM subjects and careers. At the end of 2016 we welcomed more than 350 girls to a series of hands-on workshops in Edinburgh where they were able to hear from female STEM role models and get creative with technology.  EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, the world’s biggest electricity generator. Find out more about the UK's energy challenges and what we're doing to help us achieve Net Zero Britain. 
4. Pretty Curious is a long-term programme from EDF Energy to address the critical under-representation of women working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). It aims to demonstrate the breadth of career opportunities available through pursuing science-based subjects at school and provides teenage girls with hands-on STEM experiences at workshops and events. The Pretty Curious programme is one of many initiatives EDF Energy runs to encourage young people into STEM and also support women in its business. Over 900 male and female employees are part of EDF Energy’s Women’s Network, which runs mentoring schemes, a development programme and a variety of events aimed at supporting women. Its award-winning education programme, The Pod, reaches over 60% of UK schools.EDF Energy is a Times Top 50 Employer for Women, a founding member of the POWERful Women initiative and is the only energy company to have achieved the National Equality Standard, the UK’s most comprehensive assessment of diversity and inclusion in business. Visit the EDF Energy Pretty Curious pages to find out more. 
5. SmartSTEMs is the glue between Tertiary Education, Industry and Schools.  We exist to provide equity of opportunity to young people into STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) with particular focus on the gender gap. Our model is scalable and replicable and delivered through our intertwined initiatives of hub events and outreach. Hub Events are held in tertiary education establishments, by territory, where we convene industry and schools to apply the SmartSTEMs glue and get the good people of Scotland connected and collaborating to best effect. Outreach is delivered in schools & clubs affording STEM activities locally & ongoing. Visit Smart STEMS to find out more.