A report from The Institute of Engineering and Technology highlights the UK’s STEM sector faces a critical skills shortage, estimated at 40,000 unfilled positions, costing the economy £1.5 billion annually[1].
This shortage is also compounded by a significant lack of diversity. Only a small percentage of professionals in the sector come from low socioeconomic backgrounds[2] – just 6% of doctors, 9% of life science professionals, and 19% of IT professionals were from low-income households in 2022.
However, this issue is something The OR Society is actively working to address this challenge through its ongoing partnership with In2scienceUK.
Tackling Inequality and Fostering Opportunity:
In2scienceUK, an award-winning social mobility charity, directly confronts this inequality by providing opportunities for young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds to explore and pursue STEM careers. Their flagship In2STEM programme offers invaluable hands-on experience, matching students with STEM professionals in leading UK institutions for both research and industry.
For the second consecutive year, The OR Society has partnered with In2scienceUK, demonstrating its strong commitment to building diversity and inclusion in operational research (OR).
The In2STEM programme provides students aged 16-19 with invaluable real-world work experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. In 2024, The OR Society sponsored two young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in London to undertake engineering placements at University College London (UCL). These placements offered a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and gain practical skills.
Building on this successful initiative, the 2025 partnership will sponsor another student and contribute to a dedicated healthcare-focused workshop. This workshop will focus on the diverse career paths within OR in the healthcare sector, highlighting the potential for applying analytical skills to real-world healthcare challenges.
A Collaborative approach to a national challenge:
The OR Society’s involvement in the In2STEM programme highlights the importance of organisations working together to break down barriers to STEM careers. This is especially important given the significant underrepresentation of young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds in the sector.
According to a Government report on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM[3], STEM provides many of the key building blocks of modern society, and the acquisition and application of STEM skills are increasingly important. Ensuring a continued flow of talent and opportunities in STEM roles is therefore of vital importance to the UK economy.
With STEM careers offering salaries typically 20% higher than in other sectors[4], improving access to these professions helps tackle the skills gap, promote social mobility and combat economic inequality. In 2024, the In2STEM programme supported 851 young people.
Sasha and Grace, two participants from Scotland, completed neuroscience placements at the University of Edinburgh, gaining invaluable insight into academic and professional lab work.
Sasha shared her experience, saying: “It’s really valuable to take part in a placement – it allows you to experience what professionals in a lab actually do and how they got to where they are.”
Grace added, “It’s a rare chance to meet academics and get an insight into working in the lab. It’s important to see if you like it or not.”
Shaping the future of STEM careers
With the rapid advancements in AI, data analytics, and other cutting-edge technologies, the demand for OR specialists is expected to grow exponentially. By helping young people from diverse backgrounds see themselves in these roles The OR Society is actively addressing the widening skills gap and contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic future for operational research.