This week, London Councils held a conference to unite business and education leaders to tackle the capital’s urgent skills shortage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries.

London needs more people with STEM skills. London’s tech sector continues to propel the UK’s digital economy, with the capital’s tech firms raising £2.45 billion of investment. However there are 40,000 vacancies that London employers find hard to fill because of lack of skills. Gender diversity remains an issue for the sector too, with only 17 per cent of tech roles filled by women.

Taking place at the Wellcome Collection, the London STEM conference sparked discussion on inspiring and engaging young Londoners, enhancing existing STEM jobs and training opportunities and building a coalition between the sectors to encourage innovation in London education and employment.