STEM courses must be cheaper and easier to access, CBI says

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The government must consider financing a cut in tuition fees for some courses in science, technology, engineering and maths in order to make so-called STEM careers more attractive and easier to access, the CBI has stated.

New training routes for existing workers and a one-year crossover qualification must be created to tackle the skills gaps in these areas, the business organisation said.

If crossover courses for students to take at the age of 18 are developed, young people could switch back to STEM subjects in preparation for a related degree, mimicking a system used by the legal profession after graduation, the CBI says.

Its report, Engineering our Future, argues that sectors in Britain including the advanced manufacturing and creative industries and the green economy, are facing a skills crunch in key industrial strategy sectors – especially for skilled technicians.

Sixth forms, colleges and universities should also set and report on ‘Davies-style’ gender diversity targets to boost women’s participation in key subjects like physics and maths, it stated.

Older workers should not be ignored however, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills should fund key sectors to help firms retrain older workers in STEM shortage areas, the report stated.

“Growth and jobs in the future will depend on the UK having a workforce that can exploit new technologies and discoveries,” said Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director. “The growing skills vacuum is threatening the recovery, as demand from firms is outstripping supply.

“But it is increasingly clear that the really problematic shortages are at skilled technician level. We do have to play a long game on skills, creating more apprenticeships, but we also need policies for the short-term, including retraining existing workers with in-demand skills in key sectors,” she added.

Engineering our Future argues that unless the true value of STEM-related qualifications and jobs are better showcased and more routes to such careers are created, especially for women, businesses will continue to struggle in their recruitment, threatening the long-term health of the economy. A CBI/Pearson survey shows that last year 42% of firms faced difficulties recruiting individuals with STEM skills and knowledge.

“The Davies Review has had an impact in the boardroom, now we need a similar focus on the classroom,” Hall added. “There is a shameful gender gap in science and technology so we need to transform society’s ideas of the choices women have in their careers.”