A UK government-industry deal will create employment opportunities for 40,000 people aged 18–24 with major defence firms by 2030, rising to 50,000 by 2035. It also expands apprenticeship and work-experience routes and directs unsuccessful candidates to other sector openings.
The agreement was signed by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and industry leaders at a London roundtable on Wednesday. It follows the government's £182 million defence-skills package announced last year and forms part of its effort to tackle youth unemployment.
Streeting said the government wanted defence investment to create skilled jobs and cited a million young people out of work or education. Alan Milburn, who is leading the government's upcoming review into worklessness, called the agreement a “win-win” for young people and industry's need for skilled labour.
