Pretoria, South Africa – Tuesday, 4 November 2025 – Luxury automotive manufacturer JLR has unveiled Create Possible, a free online education initiative designed to help close the UK’s widening STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills gap. Targeted at pupils aged 11–14, the programme equips teachers with curriculum-aligned resources and provides students with real-world industry insights to boost confidence, expand career awareness, and reignite classroom engagement.
The launch comes amid growing concern about the robustness of the UK’s future STEM pipeline. A new JLR poll of 1,000 pupils aged 11–14 revealed significant challenges within the classroom environment and stark disparities in access to STEM opportunities. A third of students say disengagement stems directly from inadequate or uninspiring teaching materials, while long-standing misconceptions persist: more than a quarter (26%) still believe STEM subjects are “just for boys”—despite only 1% perceiving them to be “just for girls”.
Encouragingly, appetite for STEM careers remains high. Three-quarters of girls surveyed say they would consider pursuing a career in STEM, compared to 88% of boys. But the research also highlights a troubling postcode divide. Pupils in London are almost twice as likely to regularly participate in extracurricular STEM events—36% compared to the 20% national average—suggesting that access to opportunity depends heavily on location rather than ability or interest.
Create Possible directly addresses these barriers by offering teachers a suite of ready-made, dynamic resources, including lesson plans, interactive activities, and Q&A videos with JLR employees. The programme is structured to help students better understand their strengths, connect classroom learning to real-world applications, and broaden their awareness of future pathways in engineering, technology, and manufacturing.
Its launch aligns with recent Parliamentary research warning that demand for STEM skills continues to outpace supply across key industries, with potential consequences for the UK’s economic competitiveness. Engineering, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing are among the sectors most at risk of talent shortages—gaps that could slow innovation and hinder national growth unless targeted action is taken.
Morgan Gore, Schools Engagement Lead at JLR, says the programme is a timely intervention:
“Teachers face real pressures in preparing students for a fast-changing world. Through the launch of Create Possible, JLR is making a vital investment in future talent—helping address the UK’s STEM skills gap and secure the next generation of innovators.”
Educators are already welcoming the platform. Lorna Trout, Head of Design Technology at Oakley School in Warwickshire, emphasised its value in broadening students’ horizons:
“Supporting the school’s Design Technology curriculum, Create Possible provides our students early access to real-world career insights, far beyond the traditional classroom experience. Through hands-on experiences and exposure to industry pathways, it’s encouraging them to explore future possibilities, make informed decisions, and grow in confidence.”
The initiative reinforces JLR’s broader commitment to empowering young people and strengthening the link between education and industry. It builds on the JLR Schools’ Partnership Programme—introduced in 2022 to enrich STEM learning at a regional level—and the company’s virtual work experience programme, which has already reached more than 7,500 participants since 2023.
Earlier this year, that commitment expanded further with the establishment of the JLR Foundation. Backed by an initial £2.5 million funding pledge, the foundation focuses on supporting children and young people from underserved communities. Its mission is to help them access meaningful opportunities, overcome systemic barriers, and ultimately reach their full potential.
By combining free, high-quality learning tools with sustained investment in youth development, Create Possible marks the next step in JLR’s mission to build a more equitable, motivated, and future-ready generation of STEM talent—one classroom at a time.
