UKESF Newsletter

Summer 2026

Headlines

Semiconductor Talent Award 2026 - Applications open!

The Award is a HMG funded initiative to address underrepresentation and improve social mobility in the UK Semiconductor Industry, to ensure that more capable and motivated students have the opportunity to enter this exciting and growing field.

400 Awards will be available to students starting a degree in September/October 2026 at a UKESF Partner University, studying Electronics (or a related subject), Computer Science, Materials Science or Physics.

We encourage you to share details of the Award with anyone who might be eligible to apply. We would also be grateful if you could share details of the Award on your social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).

Alongside a £4,000 scholarship, Award holders will develop their sector specific understanding and work-ready skills, through industry visits, an experienced industry mentor and professional development webinars. They will also be eligible to apply for a UKESF Scholarship in the second year of their degree.

Find out more and apply here

UKESF Scholarship Scheme - Connecting your team with tomorrow's engineers

Build early relationships with high-calibre Electronics students who contribute meaningfully during placements, becoming strong future hires.

For over 15 years, the UKESF Scholarship Scheme has been working with leading Electronics and Technology employers to provide opportunities for industry placements, employability skills development and financial support to students.

The Scheme will open for applications in September. If your company would like to connect with undergraduates from 30 UK universities, find out more and get in touch.

Encouraging more young people to study Electronics

Primary Electronics

The programme aims to build early interest in Electronics and engineering through engaging, hands-on workshops for 9-11 year olds. There are opportunities for individuals to volunteer and employers to partner with the programme, to:

Broaden horizons and help to build science capital for pupils who may otherwise not consider a career in STEM.
Share real-life experiences of working in the Electronics industry.
Support teachers in delivering practical Electronics lessons with confidence, using high-quality classroom resources.

If you would like to be involved to inspire the next generation:

Connecting undergraduates and employers

UKESF at Verification and Semiconductor Futures 2026

The UKESF will be attending VF2026 next week, with a series of presentations and workshops exclusively for UKESF Scholars, to support their transition from university into the Electronics and semiconductor sectors.

Scholars will have the opportunity to hear a keynote from Ashish Naik, Amazon Web Services about driving innovation, as well as participate in sessions on protecting intellectual property, developing soft skills, and succeeding in their early career.

Skills advocacy on behalf of the Electronics Industry

Building the future semiconductor skills pipeline

In his blog, Stewart Edmondson, CEO, UKESF, reflects on the achievements of the Semiconductor: Skills, Talent and Education Programme (STEP), which reached its successful conclusion in April, having:

Engaged ~7,000 secondary school children with Electronics resources and events
Supported 300 first year undergraduates with sector-specific knowledge, skills development and bursaries
Upskilled 100 undergraduates through in-depth digital chip design courses
Developed a Semiconductor Futures Programme for physics undergraduates/recent graduates.

Read the full blog here

Forthcoming events

UKESF Girls into Electronics, June and July, nationwide
Verification Futures, 23 June, Reading
Build a Bot - Summer term sessions, June
CW Technology & Engineering Conference, 8 July, London
UniBots UK (final), 28 & 29 July, London
Techworks Semiconductors into Systems summit, 26 August, London
Scholars’ Professional Development Course, 24 to 27 August, York
Semiconductor Talent Award Induction events, September
British Science Festival, 16 to 20 September, Southampton
Microelectronics UK Expo, 29 & 30 September, London

Together, we can tackle the skills shortage in Electronics

There are many ways you can help us to deliver greater impact, including:

Getting involved in our activities. Explore ‘What we do’ to find out more about our work and ways you can get involved through outreach, funding and volunteering.
Donating. As a registered education charity, we are eligible to received donations. Our work aims to provide practical, direct and engaging support to young people to help improve their awareness of Electronics and provide opportunities for skills development.
Supporting us as your Charity of the Year. If your organisation appoints a Charity of the Year, consider choosing the UKESF and we will work with you to identify how we can use the funds you raise, or the time you can give, to support the next generation of Electronics engineers.

If you are able to help us to invest in the future of Electronics, get in touch at info@ukesf.org.