Expanding Horizons and Inspiring STEM Career Pathways: MathWorks and Villiers Park
Villiers Park is proud to continue its partnership with MathWorks, which has significantly expanded the horizons of young people from under-represented backgrounds, demystifying pathways into STEM and developing key academic and employability skills that help young people to thrive.
From hands-on workshops to immersive university experiences, our shared commitment has opened doors for young people who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities to excel in Mathematics, Science and Engineering.
Levelling the playing field in the UK’s most unequal city
Cambridge, the home a of world-leading university and global STEM industries, is a city of two halves. There are stark inequalities which persist, despite the rich history as a centre for learning and innovation.
In Kings Hedges, where the Villiers Park office is located, healthy life expectancy is 61-62 years old, yet just three miles away in the wealthier ward of Newnham, healthy life expectancy rises by more than 10 years to 73 years for men and 77 years for women (BBC, 2025).
With a 2017 report describing Cambridge as the most unequal city in the UK (Centre for Cities, 2017), these disparities continue to limit social mobility and create significant barriers to education and careers for young people.
It is in this context that our partnership with MathWorks is so powerful. Our partnership directly addresses these challenges by supporting programmes that raise aspirations, build confidence and provide meaningful exposure to STEM for young people from Cambridgeshire and beyond.
“Support from MathWorks enabled us to deliver an inspiring, hands-on learning experience for the young people attending the residential – many of whom might not have otherwise had access to such opportunities. We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support, which plays a vital role in helping us deliver meaningful projects, activities and initiatives as well as extend our impact across Cambridgeshire.”
– Megan Broughton, Programme Coordinator for the East of England
STEM Applications in Industry
Recently, 32 students from schools in Cambridgeshire took part in a STEM Applications in Industry session led by the MathWorks team. The session, hosted at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, saw students working hands-on to solve an engineering challenge, designing battery cells for a hypothetical electric car.
This challenge mirrored the kinds of problems engineers solve in industry, encouraging collaboration, critical thinking and practical application of STEM knowledge.
Students rated the day an excellent 8.2 out of 10 and highlighted how the opportunity increased their confidence and knowledge about future education and employment pathways. Reflections included:
“It made me realise what I’m looking for at a university.”
“I wanted to go to university, and the STEM day helped me understand what it’s like.”
The session was equally rewarding for the MathWorks team, Alex Churchill said:
“It was very rewarding to come and meet the group of students as they're making plans for what to study at university and where, and a privilege to get to talk to them about the role of STEM in industry to give them a view of what happens after they complete their studies. It was fantastic how they engaged with the worked example, seeing them discussing with friends and getting stuck into calculating and problem solving, with direct application to the kinds of problems that engineers in industry solve in their day-to-day work. We were very grateful to Villiers Park and Fitzwilliam College for their invitation and look forward to working together again in the future!”
Impact Beyond Cambridgeshire
Through our ongoing partnership with MathWorks, young people across Villiers Park’s regional hubs have taken part in engaging STEM experiences designed to build confidence, skills and aspiration.
From codebreaking workshops in Hastings to science sessions in Norwich and a residential at Corpus Christi College, students consistently reported increased knowledge, enjoyment and motivation.
Across activities, young people developed problem-solving skills, explored real-world STEM applications and gained greater confidence in their ability to succeed in academic and professional settings.
Looking ahead
Disadvantaged pupils in the UK are 44% less likely to progress into STEM beyond secondary school than their more advantaged peers (Education Policy Institute, 2024). Too often, STEM pathways are presented narrowly through traditional academic routes, with limited visibility of careers and alternative progression options.
This is compounded by unequal access to enrichment activities, with young people from under-represented backgrounds less likely to take part in science clubs and out-of-school learning that build confidence, skills and cultural capital (Centre for Young Lives, 2025).
This is why our partnership with MathWorks is so important. By combining Villiers Park’s educational expertise with MathWorks industry insight, we are creating inclusive, inspiring STEM experiences that broaden horizons, demystify pathways and equipping young people with the skills, confidence and ambition to succeed.
