UK Defence industry to create 40,000 opportunities for young people every year

Students and other young people across the UK could have thousands more opportunities to get into defence, engineering, technology and other skilled careers under a major new agreement between the Labour Government and defence companies.

Some of Britain's biggest defence employers have pledged to offer opportunities to 40,000 young people aged 18 to 24 every year by 2030, through a combination of apprenticeships, work experience and permanent jobs.

The commitment is then expected to rise to 50,000 opportunities a year by 2035, potentially opening up new routes into a huge range of careers for young people who are trying to get their first foothold in the jobs market.

Companies involved include major employers such as BAE Systems, Airbus, Babcock, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and Thales, alongside a number of other organisations across the defence sector.

The Government says the defence sector currently supports around 462,000 jobs across the UK, making it one of the country's major employers.

One of the biggest elements of the new commitment is an expansion of apprenticeships. The defence industry has pledged to increase the number of apprenticeships to at least 14,000 young people by 2035.

For school and college leavers, apprenticeships can provide an alternative to going straight to university. Instead of simply studying towards a qualification, apprentices can gain practical experience with an employer while developing skills and working towards a recognised qualification.

And because defence companies operate in areas such as engineering, manufacturing and technology, apprenticeships can provide a route into highly specialised careers.

The Government has also highlighted the role of the Armed Forces themselves, which are already one of the UK's largest providers of apprenticeships.

The defence industry is also promising to increase work experience opportunities and other pathways for young people who are not currently in employment, education or training (NEETs).

The industry has committed to increasing these opportunities by at least 25 per cent by 2035.

One particularly interesting part of the agreement is a commitment to a “no wrong door" approach.

In practice, this means that if a young person applies for an opportunity with one defence company but isn't successful, they could potentially still be signposted towards other suitable opportunities elsewhere in the defence supply chain.

The idea is to make sure that an unsuccessful application doesn't necessarily mean an unsuccessful start to your career.

There could be another employer, apprenticeship or work experience opportunity that matches your skills.

The new commitment is part of a much wider investment in the UK's defence industry. The Government says its £298 billion Defence Investment Plan is expected to create more than 60,000 new roles in the UK, while a £182 million defence skills package has already been announced.

Announcing the recruitment plans, Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Defence, said: “This government has delivered the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, to strengthen our deterrence and defend against evolving threats.”

“We are using that investment to create new opportunities for young people, both because it is a moral emergency that a million young people are out of work or education and because without creating good, well-paid, high-skilled jobs in defence industries, we cannot keep our country safe,” added Mr Streeting.

Alan Milburn, who is chairing the Young People and Work Review, welcomed the news, saying: “Every young person deserves a first chance into work, but for too many the first rungs of the career ladder have disappeared. Defence is one of our great industries. It has both the scale and the opportunity to give young people the experience, skills and confidence they need to build a career.”

“This commitment from industry and government is exactly the kind of action that can change young people’s lives. It is a win-win. More opportunities for young people. A sustainable supply of skilled labour for industry. It shows what is possible when employers step up.”

Further Commentary from the Defence Industry

Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE Systems:

“As the UK’s largest defence company, we’re committed to providing opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, offering them meaningful and rewarding careers, whilst strengthening the UK’s industrial skills base.”

“Expanding pathways into defence will help to attract the breadth of talent needed to deliver the next generation of military equipment, from fighter jets and submarines to cyber, space and drone capabilities, enabling our outstanding armed forces to keep Britain safe. With technology developing at an unprecedented pace and global threats evolving rapidly, there’s never been a more important time to join our sector.”

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK:

“MBDA has, for many years, offered young people opportunities to understand potential career options, experience the workplace and be ready to transition from education into employment in a structured and supported way.”

“This latest commitment will build on this longstanding support, while also helping deliver the right workforce of skilled employees to meet the needs of the Defence sector in the years ahead.”

Harry Holt, CEO of Babcock International:

“A strong defence sector depends on a strong pipeline of talent. Every year, Babcock supports hundreds of apprentices, graduates and trainees, helping young people develop the skills needed for rewarding careers in defence, engineering and technology. “

“This commitment builds on the work we are already doing to widen access to opportunities, including work experience, pre-apprenticeship programmes and STEM outreach. We are proud to work alongside government and industry colleagues expanding pathways into defence, building the skilled workforce needed to support national security and drive economic growth.”

Paul Livingston CBE, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK:

“As a former apprentice, getting more young people into the sector is a personal mission for me and I really welcome the long-term commitment government and industry partners are making to young people. The pathway will open doors that young people thought were closed and bring huge value to themselves, the businesses they join and the UK’s economic and national security.”

Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space UK:

“Airbus is proud to support this important national effort, leveraging our footprint across the UK to provide young people with life-changing apprenticeships and hands-on experience in some of the world’s most advanced aerospace and defence programmes.”

“By opening new, accessible pathways into highly skilled engineering and manufacturing careers, we are not just strengthening our sovereign industrial base, but ensuring the next generation has the confidence and opportunity to succeed.”

Nick Earl, UK Vice President at Safran:

“We believe every young person should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We are proud to join the UK Government and our industry partners in this pledge to expand our already vibrant apprenticeship, work experience and outreach programmes across the defence sector.”

“By investing in skills, supporting local communities and helping young people take their first steps into employment, we can build a diverse and capable workforce that will drive innovation, strengthen UK defence and create lasting opportunities for future generations.”

Chris Shaw, Chief Operating Officer for Thales UK:

“We believe the next generation of defence talent should have a clear route into skilled, rewarding careers, backed by genuine work experience, high-quality apprenticeships and the right support along the way.”

“Today’s commitment will help widen access for 18–24-year-olds to opportunities with our industry partners and we welcome the drive to ensure everyone can see what comes next after taking their first step.”

Ned Baker, Managing Director of Helsing UK:

“This pledge is a crucial step in opening doors and giving young people across the country a clear route into critically important, well-paid careers that protect our nation.”

If you're looking for your first job, apprenticeship, work experience placement or another way to start building your CV, keep an eye on e4s for opportunities that could help you take that first step!