CREST announces new partnership with the Young STEM Leader Programme

We are thrilled to unveil an exciting new partnership with the Young STEM Leader Programme (YSLP) - marking a major step forward in celebrating and championing young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across Scotland.

From the 2025–2026 academic year, every young person who earns a Young STEM Leader Award at Levels 3 to 7 (YSL3–SL7) will be eligible to automatically claim a free CREST Award. With a simple upload of their YSLP certificate, learners can unlock CREST Awards ranging from Discovery Awards to Silver Awards —and for those ready to go further, there’s the opportunity to progress to Gold Awards.

YSLP is led by SSERC and is an exciting award which aims to spark greater interest and participation in STEM among young people in Scotland.

At the heart of this collaboration is a shared ambition: to inspire, recognise, and elevate the next generation of STEM leaders. The Young STEM Leader Programme already empowers young people to build confidence, develop vital skills, and lead meaningful STEM activities. Now, through this dynamic new partnership, their achievements will gain even greater national recognition.

This is more than a partnership—it’s a celebration of purpose, curiosity, and leadership. Together, CREST and YSLP are opening new doors for young people across Scotland to have their STEM journeys recognised, rewarded, and amplified.

Thanks to additional support from the James Weir Foundation, young people in Scotland are currently able to achieve CREST Awards free of charge and the student submissions from Scotland have increased by a significant 261 % since August 2025. We are open to discussions with any organisation who would like to support in any other areas of the UK.