ATTRACTING AND RETAINING ‘EARLY CAREER’ RESEARCHERS IN ENGLISH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS1

English universities are renowned for their tradition of producing world-class research. However, maintaining this competitive advantage relies on the continued supply of capable researchers and their ongoing retention and progression within the university system. Some of the most salient challenges to the continued success of English universities are mass expansion, an ageing academic demographic, women failing to progress equally, and an increasingly international research labour market. In response to these challenges, this article questions whether English universities are facing an imminent ‘problem’ in their ability to produce and retain the next generation of researchers. Particular emphasis is given to understanding whether the UK's reliance on international recruitment could be both a cause of, and a solution to, domestic skills shortages.