Caribbean STEM Coaching Club Picnic & Opportunities in 2025

by admin · Published July 28, 2025 · Updated July 28, 2025

We pretended not to notice the drop or two that fell from an overcast July sky as we settled optimistically beneath the grand sweep of an oak in Queen Mary’s Gardens, Regent’s Park.

No Zoom. No screens. No cell phones. What a pleasure it was to see, to hug, to smile with, and laugh with one another—in the flesh.

The Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, fried dumplings, smoked salmon, wine, Prosecco, and other goodies shared by Club members were delicious. Even more enjoyable were the five hours of stimulating, wide-ranging, and insightful conversations that flowed around the various opportunities we were seeing in 2025.

A Few Highlights

Construction and Infrastructure

Many governments remain committed to major construction and infrastructure expenditure, and a critical mass of mature workers in this sector is nearing retirement. We felt there are likely to be significant skills shortages in the UK and abroad for the foreseeable future.

Skilled Tradespersons

On a related note, we anticipate a chronic shortage of skilled tradespersons in the UK and globally. Given the prevalence of poor management and toxic workplaces, the advantage of the skilled trades is the relative ease with which one can set up an independent business. Many of these trades are highly lucrative and difficult to automate—we should not overlook these opportunities.

Compliance with Artificial Intelligence Regulations

We noted that lawyers, accountants, educators, human resources managers, and other professionals stand to benefit from upskilling with the EU AI Act in mind. There will likely be a growing need for expertise in AI literacy, AI audits, AI governance, AI risk management and compliance, AI advocacy, and agile project management with automation in mind.

The EU AI Act applies not only to organisations in the EU but also to suppliers, distributors, and others within relevant supply chains—so many non-EU organisations will need to comply. Chances are, the EU AI Act, like GDPR, could become the global standard. According to ColorInTech, the likes of Open AI and Anthropic have already signed up to the EU’s Voluntary Code of Practice, and Microsoft is likely to sign up to it. However, Meta is resisting, claiming that this is overreach that would throttle innovation.

We also observed that the UK has signed the world’s first legally binding international treaty on the safe use of AI and human rights. Although it has not yet come into force, this signals growing accountability and should open the door to opportunities for professionals across industries who have upskilled appropriately.

Cybersecurity

We speculated that AI must be creating new opportunities for workers—and criminals. We also noted that much of the code produced by generative AI is vulnerable to cybercrime. As a result, we anticipate an acute shortage of cybersecurity professionals for the foreseeable future.

Property, Stocks, and Bonds

The chronic shortage of affordable property in England—particularly in London—remains a significant challenge. Opinions varied on whether a crash is imminent. Some said yes, while others believed that the growing demand for housing would keep the market stable.

There was consensus, however, that investing in “buy-to-lets” is no longer viable, and that it is time to focus more on stocks and bonds. We also agreed on the importance of maximising the benefits of ISAs, SIPPs, and efficient inheritance tax planning.

We heard that many—especially those working remotely—are now looking to Portugal for good-quality, low-cost housing and a better, healthier lifestyle.

The Opportunity Mindset

There is much doom and gloom in the media—and little that fosters hope or optimism. Mental health challenges are widespread. Yet, by many measures, some would argue that this may be the best of times for Black communities. Despite persistent challenges, numerous barriers to learning and earning have come down.

There are no doubt many other opportunities emerging that we did not touch on during our afternoon picnic together. We must not be distracted by negativity. Instead, we must cultivate an opportunity mindset—with a ruthless, evidence-based focus on emerging prospects.

Our hope for the Caribbean STEM Coaching Club in 2025 and beyond is that we nurture a safe, trusted, and optimistic space—where all members are committed to generously sharing new and emerging opportunities so that we may all benefit.

And we were happy to note, at the end of our afternoon picnic together, that… the rain did not fall!