PEOPLE
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W e are living through a period of unprecedented change . Rapidly evolving technology has transformed how we live and work , creating expectations for the future that would have seemed the stuff of science fiction just a few decades ago . It ’ s easy to get caught up in the vast possibilities that technology offers , but we must remember that people are the ones driving innovation in this exciting new world and they are central to its success . To fully realise the potential of the technology at our fingertips , it ’ s vital that we invest in our people resources and address the skills shortage in science , technology , engineering and mathematics ( STEM ) that threatens to slow the pace of progress .
A recent STEM skills indicator showed that businesses at the cutting edge of the industrial economy , from healthcare to Artificial Intelligence and robotics , are feeling the effects of a lack of STEM skills in the UK workforce . Additional costs of £ 1.5 billion were associated with difficulties in recruiting staff with the right skill level ; 7 in 10 businesses had struggled to fill key positions .
While the UK government has rightly identified increasing the UK population ’ s STEM skills as a priority and a pillar of its
JUNE 2019