Vallance calls for target to recruit more scientists in civil service

Chief scientific adviser wants to encourage scientists into policy as well as technical roles

Half of graduates recruited through the UK civil service’s Generalist Fast Stream scheme should be from a science and engineering background, the government’s chief scientific adviser has said.

Speaking at a conference on delivering UK strategic advantage in science and technology on 13 December, Patrick Vallance said “a lot more…needs to be done” to increase the number of scientists and engineers working in government.