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UK defence contractors pledge apprenticeships and jobs for young people
The firms aim to offer 40,000 opportunities for ages 18 to 24 each year by 2030, rising to 50,000 by 2035.
The Guardian Business reports that UK defence contractors have pledged to create employment pathways for young people, including 40,000 apprenticeships, work experience placements, and roles each year for ages 18 to 24, with the commitment running through 2030 and increasing to 50,000 opportunities by 2035.
The pledges were discussed ahead of and during a roundtable hosted by defence secretary Wes Streeting with leaders from major contractors including BAE Systems, MDBA, and Rolls-Royce, as Labour tries to connect planned increases in defence spending with job creation in the UK.
Streeting said the government’s rising investment in defence should also help address what he called a “moral emergency” involving nearly 1 million 16-to 24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training, or NEET, and he framed the initiative as part of a broader push to boost British jobs and industry.
The industry signatories, which also include Babcock, Thales, and Airbus, said they will implement a “no wrong door” approach by directing unsuccessful applicants to opportunities elsewhere in the defence supply chain.