The UK’s position as a global innovation leader is at a crossroads. Following the recent appointment of a new executive chair at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), there is an opportunity to set a long-term strategy th
at capitalises on the country’s scientific strengths. They’ll have a long to-do list, but for many working in innovation-focused sectors – myself included – closing the skills gap should be the top priority. Without serious intervention, the UK risks falling behind at a moment when global competition for talent has never been more intense.
A House of Lords report earlier this year reinforced the urgency of addressing this challenge. It highlighted that the UK’s economic future depends on harnessing the power of engineering biology – an area where the UK has significant expertise but risks losing ground due to a shortage of skilled workers. The report highlighted that without a coordinated, long-term strategy to develop the workforce needed for emerging industries, the UK could squander a major scientific opportunity. This concern extends beyond engineering biology to other high-growth sectors such as AI, quantum computing and life sciences, all of which require a steady pipeline of talent to remain globally competitive.
The UK’s growing STEM skills shortage
The skills gap is not a new problem, but recent research shows it is worsening. TechUK’s TechSkills CEO, Lorna Willis, recently discussed in her 2025 look-ahead piece, how UK tech firms are still struggling to recruit workers with the necessary digital skills, with demand for AI expertise, cybersecurity professionals and software developers far outstripping supply. Introducing another critical dimension to the issue is the gender gap in these professions – something which I’ve explored in previous articles, particularly highlighting key studies and reports such as the British Computer Society’s Diversity Report 2024, which highlights the impact it has on innovation. It reveals that women make up just 21% of the tech workforce, and that diversity levels in STEM subjects at A-level and university remain stubbornly low. If the UK is to compete in the industries that will define the coming decades, it needs a workforce that is both technically skilled and representative of the wider population.
The government’s Industrial Strategy, which is currently in development, must address this growing crisis head-on. While investment in R&D is crucial, it will mean little if businesses cannot find the talent to bring new technologies to market. The introduction of targeted funding for STEM education, alongside a more structured approach to lifelong learning and upskilling, could help to build a pipeline of talent that supports innovation-led growth.
Aligning strategy, investment and workforce development
The appointment of a new UKRI chair offers a chance to reset the agenda. UKRI plays a pivotal role in shaping research priorities and funding allocations, and its leadership will be instrumental in determining whether the UK’s innovation economy is supported in the long term. Similarly, the recent appointment of Professor Danielle George as Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security at GCHQ signals a commitment to strengthening scientific leadership across the country. It also highlights Manchester’s growing status as a hub for STEM talent, as Professor George’s expertise and leadership in engineering and technology contribute to the city’s thriving scientific community.
I believe what’s missing now is a new, clearer strategy – one that links research funding with workforce development, ensuring that investments in cutting-edge technologies are matched by investment in skills. Without such a strategy, the UK risks funding breakthroughs that end up being commercialised elsewhere, in countries that have already recognised the importance of a strong domestic talent base. It’s why, this week, I’ve been championing the property sector’s role in supporting the development of STEM skills – among other topics – by giving evidence to the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee in Parliament. The inquiry is examining the question of how research, investment and regional collaboration can drive economic growth – central to which will be addressing the skills gap and widening the talent pool.
What goes underappreciated, however, is the need for a shift in how STEM careers are perceived and accessed. The UK’s education system is not producing enough STEM graduates, and among those who do enter the field, too many are leaving, not just due to limited career progression or lack of access to flexible working, but also because of workplaces that fail to foster inclusivity and support diverse talent. The underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in tech isn’t just a diversity issue – it is an economic one. Failing to tap into the full breadth of talent available limits innovation and productivity.
A workforce strategy to match the UK’s ambitions
There is no shortage of impetus and desire to solve the UK’s skills crisis. The challenge is in the execution, and in bringing together a number of disparate efforts, initiatives and strategies under one coherent, UKRI-led approach. Funding for STEM outreach in schools, stronger industry partnerships with universities, and clearer pathways for career changers to enter the sector could all make a meaningful difference. But without a long-term plan that links skills development to the UK’s wider industrial strategy, the country risks a future where world-leading research is conducted in the UK but the economic benefits are reaped elsewhere.
The UK has the scientific expertise, the research institutions, and the entrepreneurial drive to be a global leader in the industries of the future. What it does not yet have is a workforce strategy to match those ambitions. If the government is serious about making the UK a science and technology superpower, closing the skills gap must be the starting point.
