Earlier this week I went to a roundtable in London hosted by the UK government’s Office for Quantum to gather views from industry and academia about adapting the UK workforce to quantum technologies. The Quantum Skills Taskforce Workshop was co-hosted with techUK, a UK-based trade organization for the technology sector. Featuring 60 participants from academia and industry, the day featured lively discussion and debate about what the next decade has in store for the UK quantum sector.

All major economies around the world now seem to have their own quantum plan and the UK is no exception. In fact, the UK is onto its second National Quantum Strategy, which was launched in March 2023 by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Setting goals for the UK to become a “quantum-enabled economy” by 2033, it also established an Office for Quantum within the DSIT.

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The UK’s national quantum strategy is a plan we can all believe in

It’s an ambitious plan that would see a network of accessible quantum computers realized by 2035, with the capability for a quantum internet in the future. Quantum technologies would also be used in navigation and sensing, as well as by healthcare providers for diagnosis and monitoring. In addition, the strategy sets out plans for regulation of the quantum industry and frameworks for encouraging quantum businesses to set up in the UK.

This will mean more of the UK workforce using quantum skills in their everyday jobs, from engineers to software developers and possibly even journalists. But according to the DSIT, the demand for these skills outstrips the supply. Participants at the workshop identified areas of skill shortages and proposed solutions that could be implemented by the government. Represented at the event were universities, technology companies and non-profit organizations.

Some employers said they struggled to recruit skilled technicians for areas such as cryogenics and vacuum technology

In 2021 research from the Institute of Physics found that more than half of physics-related jobs do not require a degree. This was a recurring theme in the workshop – some employers said they struggled to recruit skilled technicians for areas such as cryogenics and vacuum technology. As part of their National Quantum Strategy, DSIT has pledged to increase the number of dedicated apprenticeships in quantum technology and to expand initiatives like the National Physical Laboratory’s apprenticeship scheme. There was also discussion about the best way to attract and retain overseas talent, as well as the importance of quantum literacy in preparing students and young people in the UK for jobs in quantum.

In addition, the importance of preparing undergraduates and PhD students for work outside of academia was discussed, with industry links to Centres of Doctoral Training (CDTs) being highlighted. DSIT has announced plans to double the number of quantum CDTs, training over 1000 students over the next decade.

Though it is still associated by many people with abstract physics, the consensus was that quantum technology will one day become an everyday tool, as commonplace as traditional electronics is now. This could transform everything from civil engineering to transport and healthcare, but making the transition out of the lab will mean adapting the existing workforce and preparing the next generation of students.