A new short film highlights the importance of ‘parent power’ in encouraging more young people – especially girls – to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths-based (STEM) careers.

Released to coincide with International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, the film features award-winning McLaren Automotive materials scientist Ella Podmore MBE and her father Bruce, talking about the importance of early years conversations in shaping Ella’s career.

Ella works on developing some of the world’s most iconic supercars and has been crowned Young Woman Engineer of the Year and received her MBE from Prince William earlier this year for services to innovation, engineering and diversity.

Chatting with her father while they build LEGO McLaren F1 LM and Solus GT supercars together at the McLaren Technology Centre, where the company designs, develops and builds its supercars, Ella jokes that “as much as it pains me to give you the credit dad, I think a lot stems from the parents!....If you change the way society talks about STEM careers”, she says, “I think that would be a huge change”.

Research from children’s rights charity Plan International, McLaren Automotive's global charity partner, shows the size of the challenge with 27 per cent of schoolgirls saying they worry about being good enough to study STEM subjects.

Ella finds that when she speaks to girls around the age of 11 as one of many McLaren STEM ambassadors, they tend to be losing interest in science and feel it is not right for them.

Parents and teachers can encourage STEM conversations in a variety of ways, with activities such as building LEGO sets together as Ella and Bruce do in the film as well as exploring nature, reading books about science and technology or just encouraging latent interest in science-related questions.

Together with Plan International, McLaren Automotive wants to tackle the stereotypes that the research highlights which prevent young people – especially girls - from pursuing STEM careers. McLaren has pledged to hold educational, skills-based workshops for 1,000 girls by 2025 to help create more opportunities for them to take-up STEM careers.

In today’s world, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) play a crucial role in shaping the future of the automotive sector - including breakthroughs in making vehicles lighter and the use of new materials which Ella works on.

Speaking with her father Bruce, who encouraged Ella’s interest in science and how things worked, Ella explains how she thinks it is important for parents, teachers and caregivers to help change the way society talks about STEM careers.

“Ella is real-life example of how conversations had with her as a child have influenced her later adult choices. By encouraging conversations about STEM early on after seeing that McLaren poster on her bedroom wall as a child, we tapped into that natural curiosity she had that most children possess about the world. It makes me so proud to think that not only does she now get to work with the McLaren supercars that she admired as a child all day, but she is so passionate about the joy of science and engineering others – and especially parents – on the role of ‘parent power’ in fuelling the scientists of tomorrow.”

Bruce Podmore, Ella’s Father

“As we mark International Women in Engineering Day at McLaren Automotive, not only do we recognise the impact women continue to have in shaping the future of engineering, but we also focus on conversations that encourage girls to explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering and maths. Those continuous conversations can help the career choices of girls and ensure that more young women pursue exciting engineering careers.”

Jim Marsh, Chief People & Transformation Officer, McLaren Automotive

"Childhood is a vital time for laying foundations for the future, including influencing the jobs we dream of doing one day. Sadly, around the world, the gender stereotypes and societal norms that hold girls back from pursuing an interest in science and maths often start from an early age.

“The film of Ella with her father shows the vital role parents can play in encouraging and supporting girls to follow their passion for science and maths. Working together with McLaren, we will continue to challenge the harmful stereotypes that prevent girls from learning and pursuing STEM careers.

Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer, Plan International UK

You can watch the short film here.