Andy Burnham has outlined a plan to “reindustrialise” Greater Manchester by leveraging the region’s scientific expertise in advanced materials, digital technology, and life sciences. As mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham emphasized the potential of graphene, a material first isolated over two decades ago by Sir Konstantin Novoselov and Sir Andre Geim at the University of Manchester, describing it as central to the Atom Valley project. This initiative aims to create around 20,000 jobs in advanced materials and related industries. However, experts warn that the UK’s ability to generate science-based employment hinges on robust scientific foundations, particularly in university physics, which are under significant strain.

The University of Nottingham’s recent announcement to cut nearly 30% of its physics department staff has sparked controversy within the scientific community. Nottingham’s department, renowned internationally and linked to Nobel laureate Andre Geim’s postdoctoral research, exemplifies the financial difficulties confronting many universities. A group of leading scientists has criticized the proposal as “intellectual vandalism,” cautioning that such cuts could damage the UK’s reputation for scientific quality and stability.

The financial challenges stem from rising operational costs, declining numbers of international students, and the stagnation of tuition fee values amid inflation. The Russell Group, representing leading UK universities, reports losses exceeding £1,500 annually per science and technology student, a situation deemed unsustainable. According to a recent survey by the Institute of Physics, over 25% of university physics departments face the threat of closure within two years.

Concerns extend to secondary education as well. Approximately 25% of state secondary schools in England reportedly lack a specialist physics teacher. Professor Mark Fromhold, head of physics and astronomy at Nottingham, highlights that existing physics curricula often omit contemporary topics such as quantum technologies, which underpin recent university spin-offs. Despite these challenges, interest in physics remains relatively strong. Physics A-level enrollments in 2025 reached a 25-year high, and applications to Nottingham’s physics degree programs rose by 11%. Nevertheless, universities are forced to reject increasing numbers of qualified candidates, exacerbating workforce shortages. Currently, 70% of companies relying heavily on physics report difficulties in recruiting sufficient graduates.

While policymakers broadly acknowledge science’s role in economic growth and have maintained funding levels across successive governments, experts caution that without a solid academic base, progress is at risk. Physics-related occupations accounted for 10% of UK employment in 2019, according to the Institute of Physics, underscoring the sector’s economic significance.

Additionally, the UK faces stiff competition from other countries to attract top international researchers, including those immigrating from the United States in response to diminished science funding there. Financial instability in UK universities, coupled with public discourse on cuts, may deter such talent, potentially diverting groundbreaking scientific advances to countries like Germany or Japan.

As Andy Burnham prepares to assume higher office, addressing the precarious state of British university science departments may prove critical to fulfilling broader industrial and innovation ambitions. Without intervention, the UK risks losing momentum in scientific leadership and the commercial opportunities it enables.