UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ministry of Defence invests £182m in cyber sixth forms to prepare teens for defence careers and tackle skills shortages in engineering and cyber warfare.
As reported by The Telegraph, the British government will invest £182m to teach cyber warfare to sixth-form students and boost defence recruitment.
How did the UK Government plan to boost defence skills with new Colleges?
The UK plans to launch five defence-focused technical colleges next year to train students in skills addressing critical gaps in national security.
The Ministry of Defence hopes to develop a workforce of submarine engineers, welders, and cyber specialists for the defence industry.
Under the plan, five existing further education colleges will be transformed into centres dedicated to defence training. Applications for the initiative will open later this year, and the selected colleges are set to launch in 2026.
The scheme is part of the Government’s upcoming defence initiatives, which the MoD says will boost the economy and create defence-sector jobs.
In recent years, the defence sector has faced a recruitment and retention crisis due to staff shortages. This was driven mainly by a lack of STEM expertise. The situation has raised concerns that Britain is ill-equipped for war, amid growing geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. He also expressed an ambition to reach 3% before this Parliament ends.
A government insider said the new defence colleges will teach emerging technologies and prepare students for careers in the defence sector.
Last month, a new initiative was launched to boost the construction industry, training 40,000 bricklayers, electricians, carpenters, and plumbers across 10 colleges in England.
The MoD confirmed £182m will support thousands of courses to train new and current employees. Around £80m will be allocated to universities to “invest in cutting-edge defence facilities and expand courses.”
UCAS will add a new defence-focused section to guide students exploring careers in the industry. The government will also introduce defence initiatives to revive the industry as part of next week’s industrial strategy.
British manufacturers call on the government to back smaller firms, highlighting MoD data on defence spending distribution.
What did John Healey say about the UK skills plan?
Defence Secretary John Healey stated,
“It’s British workers who gave UK companies the leading edge in defence innovation and industry.”
He said,
“Our Defence Industrial Strategy puts skills at the heart of the Government’s plans to make the country safer and boost jobs across the UK.”
Mr Healy added,
“This is the biggest defence skills plan in decades, a plan to boost Britain’s security and create well-paid, high-skilled jobs for young people for generations to come.”
What did Bridget Phillipson say about defence colleges?
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated,
“The defence sector doesn’t just keep the British people safe; it drives growth and unlocks opportunities for young people to learn pioneering skills and pursue a great career.”
She added,
“This investment and our new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will break down barriers to opportunity for people in every corner of our country, drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change and secure the UK’s place in the world, putting us at the cutting edge of innovation and new technology.”
Keir Starmer’s views on the UK defence and security
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated,
“It is my first duty as Prime Minister to keep our country safe. In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests is vital.”
He added,
“In my Plan for Change, I pledged to improve the lives of people in every corner of the UK by growing the economy. By spending more on defence, we will deliver the stability that underpins economic growth, and will unlock prosperity through new jobs, skills and opportunity across the country. As we enter this new era for national security, Britain will once again lead the way.”
Which regions benefit most from MOD defence spending?
Defence spending supports all UK regions, with 68% going outside London and the South East. In 2023-2024, the MOD spent the following across the regions:
- £7.1bn in the South East
- £6.9bn in the South West
- £3.8bn in the North West
- £2.1bn in Scotland
- £2.1bn in London
- £1.6bn in the West Midlands
- £1.5bn in the East of England
- £1.4bn in the East Midlands
- £910m in Wales
- £630m in Yorkshire and the Humber
- £380m in the North East
- £240m in Northern Ireland