Twenty-four universities and colleges across England have been awarded a share of £80 million to increase student places and strengthen the skills pipeline for the UK defence industry.
The Government said the funding will support up to 2,500 new student places and help build teaching facilities for courses linked to national security, including engineering, computing, cyber security, robotics, autonomous technology, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The institutions, selected from 112 applicants, will receive a share of £50 million to create almost 2,500 new places over five years from this autumn.
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A further £30 million will be invested in projects including new teaching facilities to support capacity growth over the next decade.
The Ministry of Defence said the investment will help meet skills needs in the defence sector and give more young people access to routes into well-paid careers.
It said workers in the defence nuclear sector earn a wage premium of around 20% above the national average wage, based on an MOD survey of major industry organisations.
The announcement follows the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendation to improve the pipeline of skilled workers able to contribute to UK national security.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: “We are creating more opportunities for young people across the UK to learn new skills and secure good, well-paid jobs in defence. This funding will see 24 superb universities and colleges offer more students places to learn these skills of the future.
“We know our outstanding Armed Forces are only as strong as the industry that stands behind them, and through this investment we’re strengthening our national security and helping drive defence as an engine for growth.”
The funding will support new undergraduate degrees in areas including Cyber Defence Intelligence and Autonomous Systems. It will also increase defence-related industry placements and projects, helping to develop stronger links between academic institutions and defence employers.
The MOD said it supported more than 24,000 apprenticeships last year, making it the largest provider of apprenticeships in the UK.
The £80 million investment is the largest single element of the £182 million Defence Industrial Strategy skills package.
Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said: “A strong defence sector needs a strong skills pipeline. This investment will help thousands more people gain the qualifications needed for rewarding careers in defence, working to protect our national security and boost our economic growth.
“By expanding access to high-demand courses in the defence sector, we are creating new opportunities for learners across the country while helping employers access the skilled workforce they need.
“This is a clear example of education and industry working together to deliver growth, strengthen Britain’s defence capability and support the jobs of the future.”
The funding is part of the Government’s Strategic Priorities Grant and is intended to increase places for students from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Government said work is continuing with devolved governments to assess specific skills needs and funding options across the rest of the UK.
The competition was run by the Office for Students and was designed to connect education more closely with defence sector skills needs.
The Government said the wider defence skills package also includes £50 million to establish five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Blackpool, Plymouth, Lincoln, Rotherham and Yeovil.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group, said: “Expanding capacity across universities and colleges will open up more high-quality pathways into well-paid jobs in sectors critical to national security, from engineering to cyber – and is the most recent example of MoD putting people first.
“Our latest data highlights that increases in defence investment could create 50,000 jobs by 2030, on top of the 180,000 high-quality jobs already found across our sectors. Demand is rising for skilled talent in our sectors, and against our wider complex geopolitical backdrop this is a hugely welcome announcement!”
Vivienne Stern MBE, chief executive of Universities UK, said: “Universities are central to building the skills needed for a new era of UK defence, drawing on their world-leading teaching, research, and partnerships with industry.
“We welcome the outcomes of the £80 million Strategic Priorities Grant competition to strengthen the skills pipeline. With over 100 applications to participate, universities are ready to step up to deliver for the country, providing opportunities for young people and supporting the industry-aligned talent that the UK defence sector relies on.
“It is critical that the wider Strategic Priorities Grant continues to support high-cost subjects that are vital to the UK’s needs”
