STORY
The Government and major defence companies have agreed to provide 40,000 employment, apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people each year by 2030. The annual number is intended to rise to 50,000 by 2035.
Companies participating in the agreement include Airbus, Babcock, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Thales. The commitments include at least 14,000 apprenticeships by 2035 and a 25 per cent increase in work experience placements and programmes for young people who are not in employment, education or training.
The agreement will form part of the forthcoming Defence Jobs Plan and follows a £182 million Government package for defence skills. Ministers say approximately 53,000 additional workers will be required across the defence industry by 2035, while the wider Defence Investment Plan is expected to support more than 60,000 new roles.