Recommendation 26

HM Government · verbatim extract Acknowledged

125. The establishment of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to ensuring the UK is the most innovative economy in the world and a science and technology superpower. Delivering on this commitment requires that talented people, no matter their background, at the heart of great R&D in the UK, should be able to enjoy rewarding and sustainable careers, working in an environment that truly supports discovery, diversity and innovation. 126. DSIT is committed to working with the sector to implement the R&D People and Culture Strategy, as already set out in this response, to create lasting and positive change, in a number of areas, that will drive greater diversity and inclusion in UK STEM sectors and our wider research, development and innovation system. As mentioned in paragraph 4, the Department is committed to cross-government efforts to deliver the ambitions set out in the UK’s Science and Technology Framework, which includes our stated ambition that, by 2030, we will have expanded opportunities for participation in STEM and ensured that a more diverse range of people enter the science and technology workforce. DSIT will work closely with DfE, UKRI, other Departments and wider sector bodies to deliver on this commitment. Government will continue to support STEM Inspiration programmes such as STEM Ambassadors and the CREST Awards with continuing focus on engaging with and inspiring underrepresented groups to aspire to careers in research, technology and innovation. Ensuring that people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to develop a positive relationship with STEM will be important for increasing the level of diversity and inclusion across STEM. Government will continue to support activity that helps with this, for example through British Science Week each March, which coordinates events and activity across the UK, with particular support for schools in challenging circumstances to run their own Science Week events. 127. The Department for Education is also working on a cross-Government action plan to support this. As referenced in paragraph 7, we will learn from examples like AI and data science conversion courses, where we have funded up to £30 million to help people from underrepresented groups join the UK’s AI industry. And because 80% of the 2030 workforce is already in work, we will continue to support adult retraining and upskilling to ensure people of all ages have pathways into fulfilling careers made possible by technological change. This includes initiatives like the Lifelong Loan Entitlement. The Department will also continue to support the Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network, a network of employers that encourages people from underrepresented groups to consider apprenticeships. The Network’s latest annual report includes practical suggestions and case studies from employers to support organisations to increase the diversity of their apprenticeship workforce, including in science and technology sectors. Recommendation 1 (Cabinet Office response) The Government should, in its response to this Report, tell us how it plans to monitor, evaluate and report on progress in delivering “in-house STEM capability” across public services, including the NHS and schools. (Paragraph 14) 128. The recently published S&T Framework commits to building the STEM skills and literacy needed to deliver science and technology policy for strategic advantage at all levels of government, and improving knowledge, talent and resource sharing within government, and between the public sector, academia and business. The Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession is key to delivering this outcome. The GSE Profession is responsible for developing people capability for cross government scientists and engineers, increasing science skills and capability in government and interchange with wider public sector, academia and industry through the STEM Futures Programme. The GSE strategy on Diversity and Inclusion is focused on helping to ensure the GSE Profession is representative of the community they serve at every level. 129. Progress of this work is monitored, tracked and evaluated by the GSE Profession Strategic and Project Boards, chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Government Head of Profession. The Government takes monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the S&T Framework seriously and is considering how it can best evaluate the success of the Framework over time. By the end of 2023, DSIT will publish an update, setting out the progress it has made on delivering the framework. Data collection (DSIT)