Could your child's passion become their career? Discover the opportunities that science, engineering, technology and maths subjects can have in store for them.
Take our STEM career quiz!
Is your child interested in science, technology, engineering, or maths but you're not sure what it could mean for them? We’ve created a fun quiz to help you find out how their passions could become a full-time career.Â
You don't get to have all the fun. Our Future Me content let's your child discover the possibilities with STEM too:
Question 1 What is their favourite hobby?
Question 2 What is your child’s favourite subject?
Question 3 What do you think is their strongest skill?
Question 4 What was their favourite childhood toy?
Question 5 Where do you think your child would have the most fun working?
Question 6 Where would you most like to see your child in ten years?
Question 7 What world issue_topic is your child most interested in?
Question 8 How would you describe their personality?
Question 9 How do they approach their homework?
Question 10 What do they want to be when their older?
Tech start-up founder
Technology entrepreneurs study subjects like economics, maths and statistics, business, computing and IT. There's great career opportunities available within the field and they typically earn around £30,000 to £40,000. If interested, your child should be encouraged to attend industry events and learn technical skills like coding and programming using Tech City News - Events and Codecademy.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
A CTO focuses on the strategy of a business. They typically earn between £60,000 and £100,00 in their career. They need to understand the technical requirements of the business and know the available tools in the market to support these needs. As well as having a degree in related fields such as computer science, computer information systems or IT management, they need to be on top of new technologies and trends, be innovative and create and be good at building relationships.
Architect
As an innovative, future shaping and creative career, architects typically design new buildings, extensions or make alterations to existing buildings. They work closely with clients and professionals ensuring projects are safe, functional and economical. Architects can earn anywhere between £27,5000 and £90,000 depending on their experience. Your child will need a degree in Architecture but for now, they can practice drawing to enhance their skills, watch programmes and keep up with trends in design and architecture.
For work experience opportunities and events, explore here:
London Architecture Diary
RIBA - What's On
App developer
If your child has loads of creative and innovative ideas and is great with technology, this could be a great career choice for them. Typical salaries for developers begin at £20,000 and can reach £50,000+. Although some developers are self-taught, most benefit from a degree in a relevant subject like business management, information systems or software engineering. If a degree isn't possible, an IT course can be considered to show evidence of technical ability.
Find out more: Claire Mitchell - EDF Energy
Biotechnologist
Biotechnologists use organisms to create and improve products and processes. If your child has an investigative mind, analytical skills and loves teamwork, they could suit a career in biotechnology. They typically earn between £19,000 and £60,000. To enter this profession, they'll need a degree in a subject like biochemistry, chemical engineering or microbiology. The role includes developing new medicines and vaccinations through research. They could really make a difference.
Civil engineer
"Civil engineers design, plan and oversee construction projects, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. Whether it's an apprenticeship, training programme or degree, there are many routes into a career in this field. Engineers typically earn between £24,000 and £80,000 and it's important to be able to explain design ideas clearly, analyse large amounts of data and have knowledge of relevant legislation.
See how key figures entered the industry:
Roma Agrawal - EDF Energy
Claire Canning - EDF Energy
Data scientist
Data scientists take raw data and pair it with analysis, making it more accessible and insightful. Qualifications required for this role is a degree in maths, economics, finance or statistics. They typically earn around £40,000 and a blend of skills ranging from maths to presentation and technical skills are needed to excel in this role. Good knowledge of human behaviour and being able to identify trends is key for success too.
Electrical engineer
Electrical engineers design, build and maintain electrical systems, machinery and equipment and typically earn between £21,000 and £45,000 per year. Most enter the profession with a degree in electrical or electronic engineering but entry is also possible with other engineering degrees. Any relevant work experience through a placement or industrial year is valuable too. Find out how your child can kick-start their career here:
Engineering maintenance apprenticeship - EDF Energy
Claire Canning - EDF Energy
Laboratory technician
Laboratory technicians support investigations by undertaking a range of technical tasks and experiments. Experienced technicians typically earn £20,000 to £40,000 depending on the area they work in. It's not essential to have a degree to become a scientific laboratory technician as many posts ask for GCSEs or science-related A-levels. If competition is particularly high, however, then a degree can be useful here. A degree that has a technical, IT or scientific element would be most valuable.
Rocket scientist
If your child loves problem solving and understanding how and why things work, they could be well suited to this role. There are all kinds of engineers in the space sector. Their job is to design components, software and systems, improving on current designs and creating new ones. They typically earn around £30,000. Relevant qualifications required are science related degrees, while placements will provide them with experience. The industry workforce is drawn from different disciplines with many professionals obtaining a Master's degree or PhD.
