Recently, I visited the Aston University STEM Multi Academy Trust at 2 Lister Street and met with Daniel Locke-Wheaton, the CEO and Executive Principal. The visit gave me a clear picture of the Trust’s mission to provide high-quality technical education to young people across our area.

I spoke with students, cadets, teachers, and parents. Many told me how the Trust’s employer-linked, project-based curriculum is preparing students for real careers in engineering, science, health, business, and more. I was particularly struck by the new Aston University Mathematics School – the first dedicated maths school for 16- to 19-year-olds in the Midlands – and the opportunities it brings.

The Engineering Academy’s Cadet Contingent is the largest in any non-private school, and the Trust holds a Gold Armed Forces Covenant Award. I also met veteran teachers who have transitioned into education after service. Their commitment and experience bring a powerful sense of discipline, leadership, and service to the school.

What I saw today matters deeply when I think about national education and employment policy. Just as the Aston University STEM MAT is giving students real, practical pathways into meaningful careers, the Labour government is now proposing a Youth Guarantee to tackle long-term youth unemployment. Under the plan, young people who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without “earning or learning” will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement.

This is a big deal for communities like ours. A scheme like this could help young people who are currently stuck – not in education or work – build the skills and experience they need to succeed. That connects directly to the work I saw at the MAT: giving young people not just academic qualifications, but real-world confidence, purpose, and opportunity.

The visit left me even more convinced that we need to invest in education that is both technically rigorous and socially rooted. By combining the ambitious work being done in the classrooms with supportive national policies like the Youth Guarantee, we can help ensure that all young people have the chance to thrive – not just in theory, but in a fast-changing labour market.