Ron Dearing UTC joins forces with Arco to empower young women

Major Hull employer, Arco, has teamed up with the city’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) to empower the next generation of women as they prepare to take their first steps into the world of work. 

The UK’s leading safety products and services business, Arco, has joined forces with the UTC to deliver a new female mentorship programme – Empower Women Now. 

The initiative aims to support the success of young females who are looking to forge a career in sectors such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) that are largely male-dominated.

By connecting women professionals from Arco, who are already operating in these fields, with female students from Ron Dearing UTC, the programme aims to support personal growth and assist the students in developing skills and working towards their career goals. 

Hull-based Arco is a Major Partner of the UTC and Arco Non-executive Director, Richard Martin, is Chair of the school’s Governing Board. Arco team members regularly participate in careers workshops and sessions at the school with the new programme taking the partnership a step further and deepening the company’s commitment to supporting young people in its home city.

The programme was inspired after Arco Employee Experience Coordinator, Sarah Jones, met with a focus group of Ron Dearing UTC students to learn more about what young women feel will be their biggest challenges when pursuing a career in a STEM field.

Sarah revealed: “The common concern from the students was clear – ‘how do we know STEM careers are achievable if we don’t see women where we want to be?’ 

“Seeing is believing and it was apparent that female students are desperate to see women in established careers in STEM-based roles.  

“It’s clear that there is much more that needs to happen to encourage females into the STEM sector and into leadership positions. Women have a responsibility to make themselves more visible and keep the passion ignited in the younger female generation, to encourage them to pursue their goals. 

“To accelerate action and continue our dialogue to support the female student population at Ron Dearing, we decided to launch a woman-to-woman mentorship programme, and we were delighted to see so many of our Arco colleagues come forward to volunteer their time to help the next generation.” 

As part of the programme, students have been partnered with a mentor from Arco who they meet with weekly for one-to-one sessions, providing them with a safe space to ask questions, seek advice and gain insights into working in STEM. 

Throughout the programme, the pairs have been guided on suggested topics, such as personal development, preparing for interviews and writing job applications, while also being encouraged to set their own agendas and explore topics which are of most benefit to each individual student.

Students taking part in the programme are currently in Year 12 at the school and are primarily studying STEM subjects or have an interest in pursuing a career in a STEM-related field. 

Richard Martin, Chair of the Governing Board and Non-Executive Director of Arco, added: “It’s brilliant to see the UTC students develop such vital workplace skills, building confidence and expanding their knowledge to pursue their ambitions and make a real difference in their chosen fields. 

“We’re optimistic this impactful initiative will grow to support even more young women into STEM careers in the years to come.”