STEM Pathways Fund 2026: Up to £150,000 in Grants to Help Young People Transition from Further Education into STEM Careers

The STEM Pathways Fund 2026 is a major funding opportunity designed to support organisations helping disadvantaged young people in Further Education (FE) across England successfully transition into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, apprenticeships, higher education and technical training.

The fund is particularly focused on young people aged 16–19 who face financial, social, educational, structural or other barriers that can make it difficult to progress from Further Education into meaningful STEM opportunities.

Through this pilot fund, Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation aim to support a small portfolio of organisations developing practical, sustained and collaborative approaches to improving STEM transitions.

Successful organisations could receive grants ranging from £75,000 to £150,000 for projects lasting up to 24 months.

The fund is intended not only to improve individual outcomes for young people but also to generate learning that can contribute to stronger, more equitable Further Education and employment systems.

Opportunity Category

Category: Grant

What Is the STEM Pathways Fund?

The transition from education into employment, further study or training represents a critical stage in a young person’s development. For young people experiencing disadvantage, however, this transition can be particularly difficult.

The STEM Pathways Fund has been created in response to the barriers faced by young people in Further Education who may struggle to access clear career pathways, professional networks, careers guidance, work experience, role models and other opportunities that can help them make informed decisions about their futures.

The fund recognises that Further Education plays an important role in developing the UK’s future STEM workforce. Around 1.7 million young people aged 16–19 study in Further Education settings in England, with a substantial proportion coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

However, pressures on the FE sector can limit the capacity of colleges and other organisations to provide the sustained careers guidance, employer engagement and transition support that young people need.

The STEM Pathways Fund therefore seeks to invest in organisations that can strengthen these pathways and help young people move successfully into:

• STEM employment
• STEM apprenticeships
• Degree apprenticeships
• Higher education
• Higher technical qualifications
• Vocational STEM qualifications
• Specialist STEM training
• Other recognised education, training or employment opportunities leading towards STEM careers

The Problem the Fund Seeks to Address

Many young people in Further Education encounter multiple barriers during their journey from education into employment or further study.

These barriers can occur at several critical transition points.

1. Entry into Further Education

At around age 16, young people are often required to make important decisions about their education and future careers.

Without access to high-quality careers guidance, trusted advice and clear information, choosing the right post-16 pathway can be confusing.

Young people may not fully understand:

• The range of STEM careers available
• The qualifications required for different STEM careers
• Apprenticeship opportunities
• Technical and vocational routes
• Higher education options
• The skills employers are looking for
• How their current studies connect to future careers

2. During Further Education

Once young people are studying in FE, additional barriers can affect their ability to remain engaged and prepare for their next step.

These may include:

• Financial hardship
• Transport costs
• Caring responsibilities
• Competing responsibilities outside education
• Low confidence
• Limited professional networks
• Limited access to role models
• Unmet special educational needs and disabilities
• Unmet mental health support needs
• Limited exposure to employers
• Lack of meaningful work experience

These challenges can prevent young people from accessing opportunities that could improve their chances of entering STEM careers.

3. Exit from Further Education

The transition out of FE can also be fragmented.

Young people may leave college without having the employer connections, industry knowledge, work experience, careers support or confidence necessary to secure sustainable opportunities.

This can increase the risk of young people becoming NEET — not in education, employment or training.

The STEM Pathways Fund seeks to address these challenges by supporting organisations that can provide sustained transition support rather than relying on one-off interventions immediately before a young person leaves FE.

What Does the Fund Aim to Achieve?

The fund has two broad ambitions.

First, it seeks to improve outcomes for young people.

Second, it aims to contribute to a stronger and more equitable Further Education and employment system.

The fund will primarily assess projects according to the outcomes they achieve for young people while also considering how projects can contribute to wider system change.

Individual projects are not expected to transform the entire system on their own. However, applicants are expected to consider how their work can influence inclusive practices, sector priorities, policies, partnerships and approaches to supporting young people.

Direct Outcomes for Young People

Funded projects should contribute to meaningful improvements in young people’s progression.

Expected outcomes include:

Better Understanding of STEM Pathways

Young people should gain a stronger understanding of the different STEM routes available to them.

This should help them make informed decisions about education, training and employment.

Increased Confidence

Projects should help young people develop greater confidence, skills and belief that STEM careers are accessible and relevant to people from their backgrounds.

Greater Access to Opportunities

Young people should have more equitable access to high-quality STEM opportunities, including:

• Employers
• Professional networks
• Mentors
• Role models
• Workplace experiences
• Work placements
• Internships
• Industry exposure

Successful Progression

Ultimately, projects should help young people successfully transition from Further Education into:

• STEM employment
• Apprenticeships
• Higher education
• Technical education
• Further STEM training

Wider System Outcomes

The fund also seeks to generate wider benefits for the FE and employment system.

Funded projects can contribute to:

• Better understanding of the practical, financial and structural barriers affecting young people’s STEM progression
• More equitable policy and practice
• Greater recognition of Further Education as a valuable pathway into STEM
• Better understanding of the support young people need to succeed
• Sharing evidence and learning about effective transition approaches
• Stronger collaboration between FE providers, STEM employers and community organisations
• Improved quality and accessibility of STEM transition opportunities

How Much Funding Is Available?

The STEM Pathways Fund will take a portfolio approach, meaning that it intends to support a small number of organisations working across England and fund different models of transition support.

The fund anticipates awarding:

• Up to four grants
• £75,000 to £150,000 per grant
• Projects lasting up to 24 months

The exact amount awarded to each successful organisation will depend on factors such as:

• Scope of the proposed project
• Ambition of the project
• Proposed activities
• Expected outcomes
• Project budget
• Organisational capacity
• Overall fit with the fund’s objectives

The funding is intended to be flexible and, where appropriate, unrestricted. This approach allows funded organisations to develop solutions that respond to their local circumstances while contributing to shared outcomes.

Who Is the Fund Designed to Support?

The fund focuses on organisations supporting young people aged 16–19 in Further Education settings across England who face barriers to progressing into STEM pathways.

Particular groups include young people experiencing:

• Financial hardship
• Caring responsibilities
• Unmet Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Unmet mental health support needs
• Limited access to professional networks
• Limited access to STEM role models
• Limited access to workplace experiences
• Underrepresentation in STEM pathways
• Other systemic barriers affecting education and employment outcomes

The fund specifically recognises that young people may experience multiple and intersecting barriers.

Rather than simply categorising young people according to labels, the fund wants applicants to demonstrate an understanding of their communities’ actual experiences, challenges, strengths and aspirations.

What STEM Careers and Pathways Are Covered?

The fund takes a broad approach to STEM.

STEM pathways are understood as routes that enable young people to progress into careers across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The fund recognises that there is no single route into a STEM career.

Young people may enter STEM through academic, technical, vocational or employment-based routes.

Eligible pathways may include:

• STEM-related employment
• STEM apprenticeships
• Degree apprenticeships
• University degrees
• Higher technical qualifications
• Vocational STEM qualifications
• Further education
• Specialist STEM training programmes
• Recognised education, training or employment opportunities supporting progression towards STEM careers

The fund is therefore not limited to traditional university-based STEM education.

Projects that help young people understand the breadth of STEM opportunities and identify pathways appropriate to their interests, circumstances and aspirations are encouraged.

What Does Transition Support Mean?

The fund does not view transition support as a single intervention delivered immediately before a young person leaves FE.

Instead, it believes effective transition support should be:

• Planned
• Sustained
• Personalised
• Collaborative
• Delivered over an appropriate period

Where possible, support should begin at least one year before a young person is expected to progress into STEM employment, an apprenticeship, higher education or technical training.

This means successful applicants are expected to demonstrate how their approach supports young people before, during and around critical transition points.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The fund is open to eligible not-for-profit organisations operating in England that work with young people aged 16–19 in Further Education.

Eligible organisations include:

1. Registered charities
2. Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
3. Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee
4. Community Benefit Societies with an asset lock
5. Cooperative Societies with an asset lock
6. Other not-for-profit organisations with an asset lock
7. Further Education Colleges
8. Designated Sixth Form Colleges

The fund does not accept applications from University Technical Colleges (UTCs).

School sixth forms are also not eligible. The fund specifically refers to designated Sixth Form Colleges operating as independent Further Education institutions.

Where applicable, organisations must have an asset lock ensuring that their assets and profits are used for community benefit.

What Kind of Organisations Will Be Competitive?

Eligible organisations should ideally be able to demonstrate practical experience in supporting young people aged 16–19 to progress into STEM pathways.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience working with young people
• Experience supporting progression into employment, apprenticeships, higher education or technical training
• Strong understanding of the Further Education environment
• Knowledge of the challenges faced by FE learners
• Understanding of the specific barriers experienced by the target groups
• Evidence that the proposed intervention responds to an identified need
• Capacity to deliver the proposed activities
• Meaningful relationships with relevant partners

Organisations without extensive direct FE experience may still be able to apply where they can demonstrate a credible partnership with one or more FE colleges.

Partnerships Are Strongly Encouraged

The fund places significant emphasis on collaboration.

Applications may be strengthened where organisations work alongside:

• Further Education colleges
• STEM employers
• Community organisations
• Young people
• Local partners
• Other organisations with relevant expertise

The purpose is not to duplicate existing FE provision but to strengthen it.

A strong partnership could combine the expertise of an FE college, the industry access of STEM employers and the specialist experience of a community organisation working directly with disadvantaged young people.

Organisations Outside London Are Particularly Encouraged

The fund specifically indicates that it would especially like to hear from organisations working outside London.

It is also interested in:

• Smaller not-for-profit organisations
• Organisations with strong community relationships
• Organisations that collaborate with young people in designing their services
• Ethnic minority-led organisations
• Collaborative partnerships bringing together different forms of expertise

The fund recognises the value of lived experience and local knowledge in designing effective interventions.

What Is an Ethnic Minority-Led Organisation?

For this particular fund, an ethnic minority-led organisation is defined as one where:

• The Chief Executive Officer or equivalent, or Chair of the Board, self-identifies as being from an ethnic minority background; and
• At least 50% of the Board of Trustees/Management Committee and/or senior leadership team also self-identify as being from an ethnic minority background.

Collaborations involving ethnic minority-led organisations are particularly welcomed where they bring important lived expertise to the work.

What Will the STEM Pathways Fund Support?

The fund is open to a range of activities that can strengthen successful transitions into STEM pathways.

Potential activities include:

Mentoring and Coaching

Projects may provide young people with sustained mentoring, coaching and guidance from people who can help them understand and navigate STEM career pathways.

STEM Role Models

Young people may benefit from exposure to STEM professionals who can demonstrate the range of careers available and help challenge perceptions about who can succeed in STEM.

Employer Engagement

Projects can create meaningful relationships between young people and STEM employers.

This could include:

• Employer talks
• Industry visits
• Career events
• Networking opportunities
• Employer-led workshops
• Industry mentoring

Work Experience and Placements

Applicants can propose practical experiences that allow young people to understand STEM workplaces and develop relevant skills.

These could include:

• Work experience
• Placements
• Internships
• Workplace visits
• Employer projects

Careers Education

Projects may provide careers education that helps young people understand:

• Available STEM careers
• Entry requirements
• Qualifications
• Apprenticeships
• Technical routes
• University pathways
• Employer expectations
• Progression opportunities

Confidence and Skills Development

Funded activities can help young people develop confidence, employability skills and leadership capabilities required to progress.

Collaborative Transition Models

Organisations can develop collaborative approaches involving FE providers, employers, community organisations and young people.

The fund also welcomes innovative approaches that can improve transitions into STEM pathways.

What Will Not Be Funded?

Applicants should carefully consider the fund’s exclusions before submitting an Expression of Interest.

The fund will not support:

• Capital costs, including building work and renovations
• Spending that has already taken place
• Activities taking place outside England
• Party political lobbying activities
• The practice or promotion of religion or particular belief systems
• Loan repayments
• Investment

Projects should therefore focus on eligible programme activity and future delivery rather than retrospective expenditure or capital development.

Does the Project Have to Be New?

No.

The fund welcomes both new and existing work.

An existing programme can be considered where the organisation can demonstrate how the funding would:

• Strengthen the programme
• Expand its reach
• Enhance existing provision
• Improve outcomes
• Develop new partnerships
• Improve STEM transition pathways

Applicants should clearly explain what the funding will enable them to achieve that they could not achieve through their existing resources.

Application Process

The application process has two stages.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest

The first stage is an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Applicants will provide information about:

• Their organisation
• The communities they serve
• The needs they have identified
• The barriers young people face
• Their proposed approach
• How the approach aligns with the fund’s priorities

The online EOI is expected to take approximately 45–60 minutes to complete.

Only organisations that meet the eligibility requirements and demonstrate a strong fit with the fund’s objectives will progress.

Stage 2: Full Application

A small number of organisations shortlisted through the EOI stage will be invited to submit a full application.

The full application will provide an opportunity to give more detail about:

• The proposed project
• Delivery approach
• Project activities
• Expected impact
• Project budget
• Organisational capacity
• Due diligence information

The project proposal will have a maximum length of five A4 pages.

The full application builds on information submitted during the EOI stage, meaning shortlisted applicants will generally only be asked to provide additional information needed to support the funding decision.

Assessment and Decision-Making

Eligible applications will be reviewed by:

• Mission 44
• Santander UK Foundation
• Mission 44 Youth Advisors

The inclusion of Youth Advisors reflects the fund’s participatory approach to decision-making.

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted if additional information is required before a final funding decision is made.

Important Application Dates and Deadline

Applicants should pay close attention to the following timeline:

Stage	Date
Expression of Interest opens	Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Expression of Interest deadline	Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 5:00 PM
Invitation to submit full application	Monday, 28 September 2026
Full application deadline	Monday, 19 October 2026 at midday
Funding decision	Late November 2026
Grants awarded and activity begins	December 2026 – January 2027
Expected programme delivery commencement	January 2027

Main Deadline

The Expression of Interest deadline is Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Organisations should not wait until the final day to prepare their EOI, particularly because they need to demonstrate eligibility, local need, organisational experience and alignment with the fund’s objectives.

Accessibility Support

The EOI is submitted through a Google Form designed to make the process straightforward and proportionate.

Applicants who experience accessibility barriers when completing the application can contact the fund team at:

youth@mission44.org

Visit the Mission 44 website HERE

Who Should Consider Applying?

This opportunity could be particularly relevant to organisations that already work with disadvantaged young people in Further Education and want to strengthen their STEM progression programmes.

Potential applicants include organisations that:

• Operate on a not-for-profit basis
• Work with 16–19-year-olds
• Operate in England
• Work directly with Further Education learners
• Have established relationships with FE colleges
• Work with STEM employers
• Provide careers or employability support
• Deliver mentoring or coaching programmes
• Provide work experience or placements
• Support underrepresented groups in STEM
• Have evidence of barriers affecting local young people
• Can demonstrate measurable progression outcomes

Organisations considering applying should carefully assess their legal status and operational location before investing significant time in the application.

What Makes a Strong Application?

Although funding decisions will depend on the overall assessment process, applicants should pay particular attention to several areas.

Demonstrate a Clear Need

Do not simply state that young people face barriers.

Use evidence to demonstrate what those barriers look like in the communities you serve.

Useful evidence may include:

• Local data
• FE learner insights
• Employer feedback
• Surveys
• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Existing programme data
• Lived experience
• Evidence from partner organisations

Explain Why Your Approach Is Appropriate

Applicants should clearly connect the identified problem with their proposed activities.

For example, if young people lack access to STEM employers, explain how employer engagement, workplace visits or mentoring will address that gap.

Show Strong FE Knowledge

The fund places considerable importance on understanding the Further Education environment.

Applicants should demonstrate that they understand:

• How FE learners experience transitions
• The pressures affecting FE institutions
• The needs of disadvantaged learners
• Existing support available
• Gaps in current provision
• How their project will complement rather than duplicate existing services

Demonstrate Collaboration

Strong partnerships can increase the reach and effectiveness of a project.

Applicants should consider how FE colleges, STEM employers, community organisations and young people themselves can contribute to the design and delivery of the project.

Involve Young People

The fund values organisations that work collaboratively with young people to inform or influence their activities, programmes or services.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate how young people have contributed to programme design or how they will have a meaningful voice during implementation.

Focus on Sustainable Progression

The ultimate objective is not simply participation in activities.

Applicants should demonstrate how their project will help young people progress towards meaningful destinations such as:

• STEM employment
• Apprenticeships
• Degree apprenticeships
• Higher education
• Technical qualifications
• STEM training

Why This Funding Opportunity Matters

The STEM Pathways Fund is significant because it addresses a challenge that goes beyond simply encouraging young people to study STEM subjects.

For many disadvantaged young people, the problem is not necessarily a lack of ambition.

It can be a lack of access.

Without professional networks, employers, mentors, role models, work experience and reliable careers guidance, young people may struggle to translate their interests and qualifications into real opportunities.

The fund therefore takes a broader approach to STEM progression by recognising the importance of sustained transition support.

It also recognises that different young people require different forms of support.

A student experiencing financial hardship may need help accessing workplace opportunities. Another young person may require mentoring and confidence-building. Someone with caring responsibilities may require a more flexible progression model.

The strongest approaches are likely to be those that understand these individual and intersecting barriers and respond to them appropriately.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Fund: STEM Pathways Fund
• Category: Grant
• Lead organisations: Mission 44 and Santander UK Foundation
• Geographic scope: England only
• Primary beneficiaries: Young people aged 16–19 in Further Education
• Funding: £75,000–£150,000 per grant
• Number of anticipated grants: Up to four
• Maximum project duration: 24 months
• EOI opens: 28 July 2026
• EOI deadline: 9 September 2026 at 5:00 PM
• Full application deadline: 19 October 2026 at midday
• Expected programme start: January 2027
• Application process: Two stages
• Eligible applicants: Eligible not-for-profit organisations and qualifying FE institutions operating in England
• UTCs: Not eligible
• School sixth forms: Not eligible
• Activities outside England: Not eligible

Eligibility Summary: Who Qualifies?

Eligible applicant category: Not-for-profit organisations and eligible Further Education institutions operating in England.

Examples of eligible organisations: Registered charities, CIOs, CICs limited by guarantee, qualifying community benefit societies, qualifying cooperative societies, other not-for-profits with an asset lock, Further Education Colleges and designated Sixth Form Colleges.

Target beneficiaries: Young people aged 16–19 studying in Further Education in England who experience barriers to progressing into STEM education, training or employment.

Countries/regions eligible to apply: England only. This is not an international grant open to organisations from Ghana, other African countries, or other countries outside England.

Race/ethnicity: The fund is open to eligible organisations serving the target groups in England. It particularly welcomes collaborations involving ethnic minority-led organisations and recognises the value of lived experience. It is not presented as a grant restricted exclusively to applicants of a particular race or ethnicity.

Academic qualifications: The fund is not structured as an individual scholarship or academic award, so there is no stated minimum degree, diploma or academic qualification for individual applicants. Eligibility is primarily based on the applicant organisation’s legal status, location, experience, target beneficiaries and alignment with the fund’s objectives.

Conclusion

The STEM Pathways Fund 2026 offers a substantial opportunity for eligible organisations in England to strengthen the transition from Further Education into STEM careers, apprenticeships, higher education and technical training.

With grants of £75,000 to £150,000 available for projects lasting up to 24 months, the fund provides significant scope for organisations to develop or expand programmes focused on mentoring, employer engagement, work experience, careers education, confidence building, skills development and collaborative progression support.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to organisations working with young people who face financial, social, educational, structural or other barriers to STEM progression.

Applicants should focus on demonstrating a clear understanding of the local challenges, strong relationships with Further Education providers and STEM employers, meaningful involvement of young people, and a credible pathway from project activities to measurable progression outcomes.

The first and most important deadline is Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 5:00 PM, when Expressions of Interest close. Organisations that successfully pass the EOI stage will be invited to submit a more detailed full application.

For eligible organisations in England, this fund represents an opportunity not only to secure significant financial support but also to contribute to a more inclusive STEM pipeline and help young people access opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach.

For more global grant opportunities visit the OFY Website HERE