Ford Supports "Your Life" Campaign and Names the Winner of the Ford Prize

BRENTWOOD, ESSEX, UK -- November 10, 2014: Ford is one of eight main corporate sponsors of the Your Life campaign launched today – a three-year initiative to encourage young adults in the UK to build the maths and science skills needed to succeed in the current competitive global economy. At the launch, Ford also announced the winner of the Ford Prize for Women in STEM Studies.

Your Life is a business-led initiative that aims to boost young people’s participation in science, technology, engineering and maths, the “STEM” subjects. The campaign targets 14-16 year olds, when they start to make key education decisions. Your Life also aims to inspire young people, especially girls, to study maths and physics as a gateway into wide-ranging science and engineering-based careers, while also encouraging employers to recruit and retain this talent.

The campaign began in May 2014, when over 180 businesses or organisations responded to a call to action from the Government in support of the Your Life aims. Your Life is being championed by Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, who said:

"Developing the best schools and skills is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure Britain's future, and the skills taught by subjects like maths and science are some of those most valued by employers and universities. That's why I am pleased to support the Your Life campaign to encourage more young people, and especially girls, to study these subjects by showing the exciting opportunities they can bring.

"Our plan for education will ensure that all young people leave school with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life in modern Britain. Increasing the focus on STEM subjects is a key part of this as it will empower girls and boys equally to leave school able to get a job and get on in life."

Barb Samardzich, Ford of Europe’s Chief Operating Officer is one of the senior figures on the campaign’s corporate advisory board and gave the keynote speech at the launch today.

“We believe that the Your Life campaign has the potential to revolutionise the way that young people in the UK perceive the opportunities offered by science and maths studies. We have a responsibility to ensure that young people know that sciences can lead to all sorts of exciting careers and Ford is keen to play its part,” she said.

Having made a pledge to create a Ford Prize for Women in STEM studies in May, Barb was also delighted to announce the first winner, Holly Giles from Cambridge University. Recognising that women are traditionally under-represented in STEM studies and the related professions, Ford launched the prize to recognise the achievements of women studying STEM based subjects and to encourage other women to become involved.

Ford committed to a number of additional pledges:

Increase the number of registered female STEMNET Ambassadors by 30 per cent by year end Doubling the number of female-registered participants and mentors on the Monitored Professional Development Scheme with IMechE and IET over the next 12 months Hold a “bring your daughter and a friend to work” day in support of National Women in Engineering Day Ford is on track to increase the number of registered female STEMNET ambassadors by 30 per cent by the end of this year and is on course to double the number of female registered participants and mentors on the IMechE and IET Monitored Professional Development Schemes by May 2015.

Ford held the first “bring your daughter and a friend” to work day in June this year, marking National Women in Engineering Day, and aiming to grow the number of young women with an engineering role model. It has been demonstrated by Ford’s own female engineers that many were inspired by a family member or friend to follow a path in science and engineering.