Oldest Rotherham charity brings new STEM commitment
Rotherham’s oldest charity has cemented a relationship with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre – and is sponsoring one of its apprentices to undertake a new role advocating STEM activities.
The Feoffees Common Lands of Rotherham has been operational since the early 14th century and was set up to support the town’s poor, alongside championing education opportunities. The new partnership with the AMRC Training Centre will provide an apprenticeship award, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) champion.
The chosen apprentice, who will be selected annually, will be an advocate for apprenticeships and will visit schools in the area, explaining how the apprenticeship programme works and can be an alternative to the traditional university route.
Advanced apprentice Subhan Yousaf, who is doing an engineering and manufacturing support technician apprenticeship at the AMRC Training Centre, has been selected as Feoffees’ first sponsored STEM champion, with the award valued at £500.
The 20-year-old apprentice, who works at leading sensing technology business, Tribosonics, between his studies, said: “I feel extremely fortunate to be able to gain the sponsorship through Feoffees and being their first STEM champion - and I intend to make as much from it as I can.
“In this role, I am hoping to meet various upcoming and previously experienced apprentices through this scheme to potentially network and get a bigger scope of engineering as a whole, such as all the different pathways that I may not know about. I also want to attend more events so I can give my personal highlights of the apprenticeship so far and what others should do if they are hoping to go down the same path that I did.”
Lisa Sellers, schools’ engagement lead at the AMRC Training Centre, added: “The AMRC Training Centre is pleased and proud to start our partnership with the Feoffees.
“We welcome the support for our apprentices who are undertaking the STEM champion role. This is a great opportunity for these apprentices to develop their confidence and access a wider range of opportunities that will arise from the sponsorship.”
John Bingham, senior Feoffee, said that the Feoffees are absolutely delighted to be able to create a relationship with the AMRC Training Centre, adding: “We have made an award to support one of the many excellent apprentices that are being trained in this world-class centre.
“We hope that, now established, the Feoffees will continue to make this an annual award. Our sincere congratulations to Subhan and we wish him well for the future in this role.”
For details about apprenticeships at the AMRC Training Centre can be found via: https://amrctraining.co.uk/apprenticeships
More information about Feoffees and the work the charity does across Rotherham can be found by visiting: https://rotherhamfeoffees.org.uk/