Camden Council has approved a 60% increase in funding to expand the borough’s pioneering Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) programme for a further three years, strengthening efforts to connect local young people with the industries shaping the borough’s future.
Camden STEAM, a partnership between Camden Council and Camden Learning, connects young people with meaningful employer encounters, ensuring they benefit from local innovation and investment that defines the borough.
Over the last three years, the programme has engaged over 13,000 children and young people and mobilised over 75 STEAM Pledge partners spanning creative, digital and scientific industries. Together, they have delivered work experience placements, mentoring, industry encounters and vocational pathways to support young people to build skills, confidence and awareness of career routes.
The funding extension will deepen Camden’s collaboration with leading institutions across the borough, which include Google, UCL, Arup and the Francis Crick Institute. It will also enable the scaling up of the annual Camden Primary Careers Day, increase work experience opportunities and strengthen support for young people most affected by barriers to employment through the Camden Youth Mission.
Leader of Camden Council, Councillor Richard Olszewski, said:
“Through Camden’s pioneering STEAM programme, we’re opening doors for our young people – connecting them with real opportunities, work experience, mentors, and the leading industries on their doorstep. Camden is full of creativity and innovation, and it’s vital that the benefits are felt by the young people who live here.
“This investment helps us do exactly that – help create a truly inclusive economy, make growth work for Camden and give every young person the chance to thrive and build bright futures in the borough.”
Chair of the STEAM Board, Baroness Caine of Kentish Town, said:
“We are at a moment of real opportunity in education. The renewed focus on the arts, creativity, critical thinking, AI and cross-subject learning in national reforms reflects what Camden STEAM has championed for years. Strong partnerships between schools and employers are vital to connect learning to the world beyond the classroom.
“With this continued investment, we can support schools to respond confidently to these changes, deepen our school-employer engagement and ensure more Camden students gain the skills, experience and confidence to progress into the industries shaping our borough’s future.”
The announcement was made at a reception at the London AI Campus, bringing together local employers, school leaders, students and partners to celebrate the achievements of the Camden STEAM programme since 2022 and launch its refreshed Camden STEAM Strategic Priorities for 2026–2027.
Tristen, a LaSWAP student who takes part in lessons at the London AI Campus, reflected on his experience by saying:
“The AI Campus has been great – especially the robotics course! I think spaces like this are so important not just for us students, but also future employers. You’re able to gain good insights and first-hand experiences from professionals in the field that you’re interested in.”
Hannah, a student at Regent High School, spoke about her experience working with a mentor:
“My mentor has helped me because her job in neuroscience aligns with my interests. By getting to see what she does, she’s made me love science even more and it’s helped me broaden my knowledge of what science can do.”
The next phase of the Camden STEAM Strategy sets out the partnership’s shared priorities for 2026–2027, by sharpening focus and deepening impact at a time when national and regional policy changes, including the National Curriculum and Assessment Review, present significant opportunities for schools. Camden’s strong school-employer engagement model means the borough is uniquely positioned to help schools and young people benefit from these changes.
Camden’s bold and ambitious culture of innovation has built strong links between schools and industry, supporting young people to broaden their aspirations, understand routes and pursue the futures they want.
This investment ensures this work will continue to grow, supporting more young people, deepening employer partnerships and building a system where every young person in Camden can access the skills, networks and opportunities they need to thrive in the jobs of today and the future.
