Recommendation 16

The MoD recognises that building capacity, including the industrial skills base, will take time, and that for industry to invest in this it must have confidence that the MoD’s demand will continue.46 For example, the MoD estimates that over the next 10 years industry probably needs an extra 10,000 or so apprentices, graduate engineers and other staff to deliver the MoD’s defence nuclear programme.47 The MoD is working with industry through the Defence Suppliers Forum to try to get more apprenticeships created, and with the higher education sector to attract more people with science, technology, engineering and mathematical qualifications into the defence industry.48 The MoD is also seeking to encourage industry to train enough skilled tradespeople, such as master welders, who then go on to teach the apprentices.49 However, the MoD said that the defence industry has struggled to attract suitable candidates because the skilled people it requires, such as engineers, are in high demand globally.50