Investing in People

Scientific research is now central to the future prospects for our society, for driving forward the economy, dealing with global threats to security and the environment, enhancing the quality of life and in making the UK an attractive place to live, and invest. Yet science and innovation, whilst requiring the facilities that STFC provides, is not done by machines, but by people.

Independent projections suggest there will be almost three million science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) related jobs in Britain by 2017. Yet an April 2008 CBI survey suggests that 59% of firms employing people with these skills have trouble recruiting.

STFC has initiatives in place to help increase the numbers of STEM skilled people in the workforce at all stages of the supply chain. Work conducted under the ‘Science in Society’ programme inspires school children to take up relevant school subjects, whilst work with their teachers, for example through the Science Learning Networks, helps ensure high quality science education.

For young adults, STFC has an engineering apprenticeship scheme, an accredited graduate training scheme, supports Year in Industry and industrial placement students, provides summer student placements, and supports around 800 PhD students, providing key skills to the newest generations of the UK workforce.

Training and developing people is integral to the work of the Council. STFC invests significantly in developing the scientific, technical, specialist and managerial competencies of its people by providing on site courses and learning resources, supporting attendance at national and international conferences, encouraging and supporting staff to obtain professional qualifications and supporting a mentoring scheme. We also attained the Investor in People standard.

STFC supports a wide range of professional training, including technology skills for SMEs and specialist skills such as offered via STFC’s Microelectronics Support Centre.

• STFC promotes STEM careers to school students of all ages.
  
  
• STFC facilitates the training and renewal of skills in local companies.
  
  
• STFC contributes to schemes which help teachers keep their STEM skills updated.
  
  
• According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency 2007 study, graduates with a postgraduate qualification in full time work had a median salary £6000 higher than those with a first degree.