From curiosity to career: The importance of STEM pathways - Jersey Evening Post
by Emily Moore · Jersey Evening PostPosted inBusiness
From curiosity to career: The importance of STEM pathways
by Emily Moore 24 June 202623 June 2026
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Digital Jersey innovation manager Charlie Miles tells Emily Moore why science, technology, engineering and maths can develop a broad range of skills suitable to many different sectors
CAST your mind back to your school days and, specifically, your last few years in the classroom when talk regularly shifted to your career aspirations.
With the oft-held childhood fantasies of becoming a Premier League footballer or a principal ballerina now cast aside, it is likely that many Island students found that they were being pointed towards the finance industry.
And while this sector – and associated professional services – still employs around 25% of Islanders, there are, says Charlie Miles, several other opportunities for people whose skills might lie in areas such as problem-solving and critical thinking.
This, says the innovation manager at Digital Jersey, is why the organisation is focused on helping students with a passion for science and technology to transform this “classroom interest” into a career which can “contribute to the Island’s economy”.
“At the moment, STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – is often seen as part of the school curriculum, and often a part which appeals to the smartest and most academic children,” she reflected.
“However, STEM is much broader than that and develops skills such as problem-solving and thinking outside the box.”
Indeed, the breadth of topics and skills touched by STEM means, says Charlie, that it can be taken out of the classroom and applied to jobs in a wide range of sectors.
“STEM helps people to see a problem, solve it, work differently and apply those skills, which are often considered abstract, to real situations,” she said. “In a world which is constantly changing, with the rising adoption of AI and the impact that has on the workplace, these skills are of great demand in a wide range of industries from finance and technology to health and start-ups.”
But while there may be multiple career opportunities for people with an aptitude for STEM, how can the Island make students aware that such pathways exist locally?
This, says Charlie, is why Digital Jersey is focusing on building “visible pathways” designed to take people from “curiosity to career”.
“If we are honest, there is still a narrative in Jersey that pushes people either towards university or into finance,” she said. “We need to change that narrative and show people how open the spectrum is and how many opportunities there are, not just within existing companies but also for entrepreneurs starting up their own businesses.
“I think the potential for start-ups is huge. The Island has a great low-tax system, it is only a short flight away from London and we have lots of investors here. We have seen great examples of entrepreneurial success with start-ups such as Tom Hacquoil, who built Pinpoint, and Max Corbridge, a self-taught engineer with a languages degree who set up Secure Agentics.”
But whether people want to go it alone or seek employment with an established firm, Charlie says it is vital to “upskill the talent”, so that it remains in the Island.
“I think it’s fantastic that people go to university and possibly then go travelling to gain further experience, as there is so much that you can learn from other people and cultures, but we really want them to bring that knowledge back here to benefit our economy,” she said.
Developing such talent is particularly important, adds Charlie, who returned to Jersey after graduating with a first-class degree in engineering from Liverpool John Moores University. After beginning a career with a structural engineering firm locally and spending time travelling, Charlie went on to join Digital Jersey.
“It is really hard for someone to leave school and walk into a technology company, which is why part of our role at Digital Jersey encourages tech businesses to join the Project Trident work experience scheme and open their doors to young people,” she said. “It is incredible to see how, with the tools available now, young people can build something remarkably quickly, and if they do that, and develop their skills, they are more likely to gain opportunities at some of these firms.
“But it is also important to remember that junior roles are changing. We have already seen a 40% decrease in junior roles across tech companies, as AI takes on the tasks traditionally carried out by less experienced members of the team. That makes upskilling and interaction with companies more important than ever, something which we are supporting through our STEM pathway and initiatives such as STEM Racing, which is now open to children from nine years of age.”
In its simplest form, STEM Racing sees primary- and secondary-school students design and race their own Formula One car. In real terms, though, Charlie says it is much more complex than that.
“This is a very interesting programme that covers everything from project management and writing business plans to engineering and design,” she explained. “There are different levels of the programme, so there is something for everyone from nine to 19 years of age. But while the end goal is to build a Formula One car, before they can even start thinking about the design, they need to go out and secure funding, put together a business plan and develop a marketing campaign.
“Then, once they have designed the car, they need to consider elements such as stress-testing. Through this programme, children are learning some of the same things that I learnt during my first year of university. At the end of one of the programmes, I remember Tony [Moretta, chief executive of Digital Jersey] saying that the students had done more than he had seen many adults do.
“That, for me, was really powerful, as I think we often underestimate what children can do, but initiatives such as STEM Racing give them the perfect opportunity to flourish and show just what they are capable of.”
These abilities are also highlighted through other STEM initiatives organised by Digital Jersey, including the Youth Hackathon and Code In Place, as well as a series of work placements with Digital Jersey members and the Digital Tribe Quiz.
“This quiz features ten quick questions, which are designed to help people find their digital tribe,” said Charlie. “This is great because a lot of young people don’t know exactly what they want to do but they know what they enjoy. We don’t ask which subjects they are good at. Instead, we ask them what they like doing, what their hobbies are and whether they tend to lead or organise events in their free time. For example, if someone says that they plan weekend activities with friends, that signals that they might be a good leader or project manager.
“From their answers, the programme then gives them a dedicated path, showing their strengths and possible careers in Jersey that they might find interesting. That is a really valuable tool, not just for helping them to identify careers they might not have thought of but also to show us the skills we have in the Island and to help create opportunities to keep them here.
“If, for example, someone says they really enjoy doodling and solving problems in Scratch, that kid could go on to work in DevOps and potentially build the next unicorn in Jersey. That has to be the ideal economy in which to live.”
And with the digital economy having grown by 20% since 2013, Charlie says there has never been a better time for people to consider a career in the technology sector.
“There are so many opportunities here, and we just need to shout about them and create these visible and clear STEM pathways, so that people recognise that there is a career for them here, and they don’t need to go to the UK or further afield to fulfil their dreams,” she said. “That’s why I would encourage anyone interested in this area to come and talk to us, and to complete the Digital Tribe Quiz, because the more people who are involved in this conversation, the better.”
For more information about Digital Jersey’s STEM Pathway, or to complete the quiz, visit digital.je/stem-career-pathway.
To hear the full interview with Charlie, click on the link below:
https://dashboard.transistor.fm/shows/the-interview/episodes?qs=STEM
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