Youth STEM 2030 Backed by Firstport

We’re pleased to announce that towards the end of last year, Youth STEM 2030 was awarded funding by social enterprise start-up agency Firstport!

Our Founder & CEO, Mhairi McCann, was one of fifteen social entrepreneurs to be awarded a share of £75,000 in funding from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund, which is delivered by Firstport.

The £5,000 ‘Start It’ award allows social entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground, and awardees are recognised by an independent panel as not only having a business idea that addresses a social, environmental, and/or community issue, but as also being the right person to make the idea happen.

On receiving the award, Youth STEM 2030 Founder & CEO Mhairi McCann said:

I’m delighted that Youth STEM 2030 has been awarded funding from the Social Entrepreneurs Fund by Firstport, alongside some fantastic individuals and social enterprises! The funding is allowing us to develop projects that are creating real opportunities for young people that have an impact. In turn, we’re showing that with the right opportunities, support and platforms, young people can use STEM to solve the world’s biggest challenges.
— Mhairi McCann, Founder & CEO, Youth STEM 2030

On the awardees, Chief Executive of Firstport, Josiah Lockhart said:

This latest round of funding highlights the tenacity and strength of social entrepreneurs. The quality of the applications suggests that the social enterprise sector still has plenty to offer even in the current difficult climate.
— Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive, Firstport

Read the full announcement article to meet the other fourteen awardees and find out about the Start It fund on Firstport’s website.

Mhairi McCann

Mhairi (she/her) is Youth STEM 2030’s Founder & CEO, and her work here is fuelled by a deep drive to create possibility for other young changemakers in STEM. Based in Inverclyde, Scotland, her expertise lies in creating meaningful, inclusive and participatory youth inclusion in decision-making. A generalist, Mhairi brings a strategic approach to the pursuit of our mission, and enjoys thinking of the bigger picture and ‘joining the dots’. She has a strong focus on equity & inclusion, is especially passionate about ocean conservation and, in her free time, enjoys volunteering and spending time in nature on long walks with Gordon the dog. Mhairi is a 776 Foundation Climate Fellow, and a 2021 National Geographic Young Explorer, and for her work at Youth STEM 2030, she was named Winner of the 2022 Young Scot Environment Award.

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The Abstract: January 2021