Parents, teachers and careers advisers can play a vital role in helping young people discover the opportunities available in semiconductors.
Whether you’re introducing the industry for the first time, supporting subject and study choices, or helping someone explore their future career, you’ll find resources, information and activities here to help you inform, inspire and guide the next generation of semiconductor talent.
Hear first-hand from people working across the UK semiconductor sector about what they do, the skills they use, how they got into the industry and what their careers are really like.
Make it easier to bring semiconductors to life with ready-to-use resources for the classroom, careers conversations and activities with young people. Explore lesson materials, presentations, videos, activities and other practical tools designed to help explain what semiconductors are, why they matter and the exciting careers available across the industry.
Give young people the chance to experience the world of semiconductors first-hand. From industry speakers and school visits to workshops, demonstrations and hands-on activities, there are organisations and programmes that can bring semiconductor science, technology and careers directly into your school – helping students understand how the technology works, meet people from the industry and discover where it could take them.
The Neon enrichment finder is the UK’s brilliant free service to help schools easily find hundreds of high-quality STEM activities.
Explore activitiesThe STEM Ambassador programme supports a network of thousands of amazing volunteers to bring real-life examples of STEM careers into schools, colleges, and universities across the UK.
Find out moreThe Semiconductor Catapult and Swansea University have partnered to create an immersive virtual reality experience of the world of semiconductors.
Find out moreRaspberry PI supports teachers and schools with free, high-quality curricula, classroom resources, and professional development.
Find out moreMicro:bit offers free online training courses that allow you to develop your computing and micro:bit knowledge in your own time and at your own pace.
Find out moreA range of activities, outreach programmes and industry engagement can also be access through your local and regional semiconductor cluster:
There are a number of entry points into the semiconductor industry based on where students live across the UK, and the level of qualification they wish to pursue. Explore the routes below:
An early opportunity to develop practical, digital, maths and employability skills that can support progression towards technical training or an apprenticeship. Students typically focus on core GCSE Physics, Mathematics, and specialist GCSE Electronics or Engineering topics.
Courses and apprenticeships can begin developing the practical engineering, manufacturing, electronics and technical skills relevant to semiconductor environments.
Study subjects such as maths, physics, engineering, electronics, computing or chemistry at A-level, undertake a relevant apprenticeship, or use Level 3 study as a route into higher education.
Develop specialist knowledge in areas such as electronics, electrical engineering, manufacturing, engineering systems or related disciplines. Can provide a route directly into technical roles or further study.
Build deeper technical expertise for roles across semiconductor manufacturing, equipment, testing, packaging, maintenance and engineering, or progress towards degree-level study.
One of the main routes into semiconductor engineering and technology careers. Relevant undergraduate subjects include electronic & electrical engineering, physics, materials science, chemistry, computer science, chemistry and related disciplines.
You can also undertake degree apprenticeships, where part of your time is spent studying and part is spent working full-time in industry. Examples of relevant degree apprenticeships include:
Develop expertise in areas such as semiconductor devices, IC design, photonics, compound semiconductors, materials, advanced manufacturing, AI hardware and other specialist fields.
Undertake original research at the forefront of semiconductor science and engineering. UK semiconductor-related Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) provide structured doctoral training alongside industry engagement and specialist technical development.
More info on CDTs can be found here.
Widening participation is essential to building a strong, diverse and sustainable semiconductor workforce for the future. By opening up opportunities to people from all backgrounds, we can broaden the talent pool, bring new perspectives into the industry and ensure more people can benefit from the careers the sector has to offer.
A range of initiatives and programmes are already helping to widen participation and create more accessible pathways into the UK semiconductor industry:
Arkwright Engineering Scholarships exist to identify, inspire, and nurture high-potential young people aged 16–18 as they prepare to leave school and progress into the exciting world of engineering, computing, or technical design.
Find out moreGirls into Electronics is a unique opportunity for female students – in years 10, 11 and 12 – to explore Electronics. It is a series of one-day events, during the summer term, hosted at universities.
Find out moreThe Access Project supports young people from under-resourced backgrounds to raise their aspirations, access top universities and achieve social mobility.
Find out moreYou can also explore support, opportunities and resources tailored to where you are in your journey – whether you’re studying, teaching or advising, already working in the industry, or an employer.
