The Mulberry STEM Academy is an innovative partnership between Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd and the Mulberry Schools Trust. Launched in 2020 as part of our Accelerate 25 programme to become a more diverse and inclusive team, the STEM Academy focuses on innovation, motivation and education.
On Friday 3 March, we were delighted to recognise the achievements of the 107 Mulberry Schools Trust students who successfully completed the year-long extra-curricular programme.
Hosted at Mulberry UTC in East London, the graduation ceremony was an occasion to celebrate. For the students and their families to celebrate their achievements and reflect upon their personal growth and commitment, and for the Mulberry Schools Trust and the Team, today’s events celebrated the joint commitment to supporting talented students through the power of education to widen access and opportunities for careers in motorsport.
Before receiving their awards, the students watched congratulatory messages from Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff who were in Bahrain for the opening weekend of the 2023 Formula One season.
This year’s cohort of 107 students from Years 10 and 12 join the 48 scholars who successfully graduated from the inaugural year of the STEM Academy in 2021.
The 2023 group of students have already been selected and 114 new STEM enthusiasts embarked on their own journey in January this year, following the carefully designed programme which includes imaginative teaching, career coaching and industry experience.
Lewis Hamilton extended his personal congratulations to the scholars: “Congratulations to everyone for graduating from the Mulberry STEM Academy. We are really proud of your achievements. I hope you have enjoyed getting a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes at a Formula One team. Good luck with the rest of your studies and keep believing in yourselves.”
Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust said: “The Mulberry STEM Academy is creating a talent pipeline amongst our students resulting in successful careers in STEM-related industries. We continue to do all we can to ensure that our partnership with Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix brings about the systemic change required that will see us play our part in contributing to a more diverse and representative workforce in STEM, and particularly engineering. We, as educators, alongside our partners have the passion, drive and commitment to achieve the changes we want to see by designing and implementing this unique programme across our schools.”
Paul Mills, Chief People Officer at Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix commented: “Attending the STEM Academy graduation event and meeting this year’s cohort of students has been hugely inspiring and rewarding. Championing diversity is embedded with our Team, and within the Mulberry Schools Trust. I’m very grateful for the partnership we have formed together. On behalf of everyone at the Team, we would like to say congratulations to the students who successfully graduated. Thank you to everyone involved in the event, from the teachers to the students and their parents and carers, our Team members, and the Mulberry Schools Trust board for their efforts.”
About the Mulberry Schools Trust
The Mulberry Schools Trust is a flourishing collaboration of schools and partners with a focus on delivering high quality provision for local families in Tower Hamlets and East London. It has provided outstanding education in East London for over 50 years.
The Trust currently comprises founding school Mulberry School for Girls, Mulberry UTC, Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, Mulberry Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College and Mulberry Academy London Dock (scheduled to open in 2024). In September 2022, the Trust welcomed its first primary school – Mulberry Wood Wharf Primary, and will soon welcome other schools.
The Trust believes in outstanding achievement for all and the power of partnerships with families, other local schools and the communities that it serves. It has established the Mulberry Schools Foundation to support its education work more widely.
Twitter: @MulberryTH