The CBI – which brands itself ‘the voice of business’ – is sounding more and more like a political party. Today it published New government in action – its manifesto for whoever wins the next election.
Education is high on the list (though the plea for a £2,500 subsidy for employers who take on an apprentice – alongside tough calls for cuts in public spending – sounds a little self-interested). In particular, more and better graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths – the so-called Stem subjects – are needed to boost the economy.
While accepting the arguments in favour of more biochemists, quantum theorists, aeronautical engineers and the like, there does seem to be an element of ‘physics envy’ about this latest plea for more Stem students. Why envy? Perhaps the hundreds of thousands of arts graduates out there – myself included – feel a little intimidated and inadequate when put alongside those who can dream up elegant equations and cook up things in the laboratory to ward off swine flu.
Just look at the background of the leaders of the CBI. Director-general Richard Lambert did history at Oxford. His deputy, John Cridland, did history at Cambridge. President Helen Alexander boasts an MA, rather than a more desirable MSc or MEng. In fact, the only leading figure at the CBI – to judge by the biographies on its website – with a significantly Stem background is marketing and commercial operations director Chris Levy, who has a degree in civil engineering.
But perhaps the need for Stem graduates to support the economy is somewhat overstated. Lambert, despite his arts background, picked up enough financial knowhow during his career at the Financial Times to get invited on to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. As if to counter the Stem tide, Universities UK, the vice-chancellors’ representative body, has been at pains this year to point out the value to the UK economy of the creative industries, worth a cool £57bn in 2006. Not bad going for those who might be somewhat scientifically challenged.
Stephen Court is senior research officer at the University and College Union
