Dr Jo Mason to deliver 21st Century Skills Workshops to STEM Professionals

Dr Jo Mason,

A former CSI, Dr of Chemistry, and business coach will lead a series of workshops to develop the technical and problem-solving skills of those working in the STEM industries in North East Lincolnshire and coastal regions.

Dr Jo Mason, STEM skills expert and owner of Propulsion Coaching, will lead new training called 21st Century Skills Workshops to participating businesses in collaboration with Ørsted UK and the University of Lincoln.

Taking place in Skegness and Grimsby on 24th and 25th March 2020 respectively, these workshops aim to enhance participants’ confidence, ambition and critical thinking by expanding on the existing skill-set of employees seeking career progression into more technical roles, – and businesses can now sign up.

The workshops will see delegates taking part in a series of interactive activities, such as an engineering-focussed Escape Room and building a wind-powered car.

They will leave the workshop with a University of Lincoln “Skills Passport”, highlighting their individual skills and signposting career development opportunities. They will also be able to access follow-up coaching sessions from Dr Mason.

Funding for the workshops has been awarded by wind-power giant Ørsted UK’s East Coast Community Fund, which supports community and environmental projects along the Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Norfolk coast. The programme will be delivered by the University of Lincoln’s Educational Partnerships Team.

Dr Mason has a BSc and PhD in Chemistry, as well as a 14 year career which has spanned the fast-paced environment of crime scene investigation across multiple police services, teaching forensics in the Higher Education sector, and has held strategic management positions. She said: “True growth only comes from pushing beyond comfort zones. These events are designed to support our delegates in doing just that, within a safe and fun learning environment.

“My original vision of building skills-development workshops was based on the World Economic Forum’s ‘Ten skills needed to thrive in 21st Century’ but with a focus on STEM. Seeing this incorporated as a key feature of the winning bid to becoming a reality, thanks to our hugely talented team, is incredibly exciting.”

Eleanor Ramsey, University of Lincoln’s Educational Partnerships Manager, added: “A collaboration with an organisation like Ørsted is in line with the University of Lincoln’s drive to explore the challenges and opportunities of the Twenty First Century, while respecting planet earth and its diversity.

“The sustainability agenda is a key priority for the institution, which was recently awarded an EcoCampus Gold Certification for Environmental Management, and with her passion for all things STEM and sustainability, Jo is the perfect person for us to partner with in delivering these workshops.

“We’re confident that our participants will leave the sessions feeling both inspired and empowered.”

The funding initiative launched in November last year and will offer £75,000 a year for the next 20 years to support key organisations in the area seeking to enhance and improve the technical, engineering and problem-solving capabilities of their workforces in response to a shift from low-skilled manual roles to more technical engineering requirements.

Organisations in the region who wish to take part can do so by getting in touch with the University of Lincoln’s Educational Contracts team, via enterprise@lincoln.ac.uk or calling 01552 837200.