STEPHEN MARSTON
Since April 2009, Stephen has been the Civil Service Director General responsible
for higher education. Working to Vince Cable and David Willetts in the Department
for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), he has led the development of the Coalition
Government’s strategy for the reform of universities and student finance.
Since 2002, first as Director in the Department for Education and Skills, then as
Director General in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and now in
BIS, Stephen has also been responsible for national strategy for adult skills and
training. During that time he led the expansion of the apprenticeships programme,
reform of vocational qualifications, development of workplace training, and a stronger
focus on helping people get the skills and qualifications that meet the needs of
business and the economy.
As Director General, Stephen has been a Board member of three Government
Departments, helping to set up the new Department for Innovation, Universities and
Skills in June 2007, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in June
2009. He has worked for five Secretaries of State.
Between 1998 and 2002, Stephen served as Director for Institutions at the Higher
Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in Bristol. The Council manages
the allocation of higher education funding to universities and colleges in England.
Born in 1961, Stephen studied classics at Cambridge University, gaining a double
first and the Chancellor’s medal for classics. He joined the Civil Service fast stream
in 1983, working in a range of different areas of education policy and administration,
as well as in the Economic Secretariat of the Cabinet Office.