March 6 2017

Skills4Stem CEO Wins Bedfordshire BusinessWoman of the Year 2017

Bedfordshire Business Woman of the Year 2017 is pioneering STEM skills development

Entrepreneur Sarah Davis has been named as this year’s Bedfordshire Business Woman of the Year. She received the Award at a ceremony last week from HM Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis.

As CEO of Skills4Stem Ltd, Sarah has a leading innovator in her field and is a worthy role model. Sarah’s consultancy, Skills4Stem, is a thought leader on technology solutions such as gamification to collect, analyse and map skills and competencies data prior to designing and delivering globally-accredited training to ensure the highest return on investment for employers, individuals and the economy.

Drawing on Sarah’s background in engineering and her expertise in the built environment, Skills4Stem particular focus is within Science Technology, Engineering and Maths-related sectors.

With British Science Week (March 10-19) being celebrated this week, Sarah says: “There is shortage of skills within science, technology, engineering and mathematics. While Government and educational initiatives are in place to help address this in the UK, I wanted to bring some practical, commercial perspectives to this issue. It’s something I am truly passionate about. Skills4Stem is about making a difference and helping the development of leadership within the industry.

“I am delighted to receive this Award and it will help drive me forward. Being recognised by my peers in the local community as a business leader means a lot to me.”

Now a high growth, global business, Sarah founded Skills4Stem Ltd in 2014 and the consultancy has been based at Bedford i-kan. Next month sees a move to new premises at innovation centre Bedford i-lab.

Three times global entrepreneur, Sarah’s current business portfolio includes:

– Skills4Stem Ltd, a successful corporate training business for STEM organisations with a focus in the Built Environment (UK & UAE markets);

– Skills4Stem Ireland Ltd – building on the continued success of Skills4Stem in the UK and targeted at a growth market offering great opportunity and innovation; and

– she is currently raising Seed Investment for her new venture PurpleSmartie Ltd.

PurpleSmartie is an Education Technology business that uses skills data to inform a new skills and training agendas, and will offer a unique, personalised training platform powered by ongoing skills data.

Sarah Davis, FCIOB MIoD is a Chartered Fellow of Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Member of the Institute of Directors, and active member of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Women in Enterprise.