Defence industry pledges 40,000 opportunities for young people each year

“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.”

Sheila Flavell CBE, chief operating officer at FDM Group:

“One million young people who are NEET cost the UK economy a staggering £125 billion. 

“That’s not just lost revenue but also a serious loss of talent. 

“As AI continues to evolve and redefine traditional job roles, the digital skills gap will continue to impact social mobility.

“To close this gap, we need to improve access to opportunities for candidates from diverse backgrounds and support their entry into careers in competitive sectors.

“Alternate pathways into employment like apprenticeships and tailored upskilling programmes can help attract and develop a major talent pool that may have been overlooked. 

“The UK government must work with industry to facilitate this. Offering incentives like tax relief for hiring apprentice level 5 and below can encourage more employer-led initiatives into graduate hiring.”

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.”

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.”

Chris Allam, managing director at 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.”

Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO of Rolls-Royce:

“At Rolls-Royce, we have seen first-hand how early career opportunities in defence build a stronger industrial base with cross-sector benefits.

“We are proud to partner with the UK government and our industry peers to invest in the talent of tomorrow, not only for today’s programmes but for the capabilities the UK will need in the future.

“A strong defence sector is built on the people who power it, and this pledge reflects a shared commitment between the UK government and industry to strengthen UK national resilience and security.”