The UK Government has acknowledged the importance of a skilled workforce for the defence manufacturing sector, outlining ongoing efforts to support apprenticeships, training, and workforce retention.
In response to written parliamentary questions from Callum Anderson MP, Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, stated that “this Government recognises the critical importance of supporting the defence sector in order to benefit from the skilled workforce needed to sustain a vibrant, innovative and competitive defence industrial base.”
According to the Government, the MOD is actively working with industry to address sector-wide recruitment and retention challenges. A joint MOD-industry working group has been established to assess current skills gaps, particularly in STEM fields. Eagle explained that “a dedicated joint MOD-industry working group is collaborating to identify and address skills gaps, including around UK defence sector STEM challenges.”
The defence sector is currently engaged in major programmes, including the Dreadnought-class submarines, the Tempest fighter jet, and the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, all of which require a sustained pipeline of highly skilled engineers, technicians, and cyber specialists.
The Government has pointed to apprenticeships and graduate opportunities as key tools to develop the necessary workforce. Eagle noted that “Defence supports Defence Industry apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, including national apprenticeship awards, National Apprenticeship Week, the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, and university careers fairs.”
These initiatives are designed to attract young people into defence-related careers, ensuring long-term stability in key industries such as shipbuilding, aerospace, and advanced weapons systems.
Despite these measures, concerns remain over whether the defence sector can attract and retain enough skilled workers amid competition from commercial aerospace, renewables, and other high-tech industries. The ageing workforce and a shortage of experienced personnel pose additional challenges.
Getting to be a waste of time trying to navigate bots on here. Migrating to TWS. Maybe American but the articles are in depth, comments are humour filled and not filled with stupid “earn $400 a day” shit.
There are plenty of trolls and suchlike on TWZ to be fair, they come and go. I do both- I appreciate the UK-centric reporting here on UKDJ, and the knowledge in the commentors.
Has anyone in the defence sector considered paying better? It’s a crazy thought, I know.