This note summarises a full report setting out the background information and initial findings of a project to explore the background to the widespread concerns over the supply of skilled people needed to maintain the UK as a leading knowledge economy. Phase I of the project concentrates on science, technology and mathematics (STM) first degree courses in the UK. The report is designed to underpin a wider study of the fitness for purpose of UK STM Higher Education (HE) into the middle of the next decade and beyond, and includes a wide range of data on STM A-levels, STM first degree courses and the first destination of STM graduates.