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<p>In order to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) industries, we are encouraging more girls to take STEM subjects
at school, college and university, as well as providing improved careers advice and
awareness and working with the STEM sector to champion gender representation.</p><p>
</p><p>We announced substantial spending commitments in the Autumn Budget 2017 on
maths, digital and technical education. We are funding programmes to increase the
take-up of maths, such as the Advanced Maths Premium, and physics, through the Stimulating
Physics Network, which has a specific strand focusing on increasing the number of
girls in physics A level.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting better teaching of maths,
science and computing in schools, including a new £84 million programme for computing
teaching and participation. As part of this investment, we also launched the Gender
Balance in Computing pilot programme this year, which aims to identify practical interventions
that schools (at all stages, excluding post-16) can implement to improve girls’ participation
in computing.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to improving STEM careers advice in
schools in the Careers Strategy, including making sure that STEM encounters, such
as with employers and apprenticeships, are built into school career programmes by
updating school and college statutory guidance. We are also raising awareness of the
range of careers that STEM qualifications offer, through programmes such as STEM ambassadors.
44% of these ambassadors are women.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, we are taking steps to
work with the sector through apprenticeships and using the employer Apprenticeships
Diversity Champions Network, now employing 70 members, to champion gender representation
in industries where improvement is needed.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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