Large Portsmouth defence firms BAE Systems and Airbus among cohort to offer huge swathes of job opportunities

Some of Portsmouth’s largest employers will be involved in a scheme offering tens of thousands of job opportunities for young people.

BAE Systems and Airbus will be part of a project to expand roles in the defence industry across the country. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the scheme will create employment opportunities for 40,000 18-24-year-olds with major firms by 2030.

This includes BAE Systems, Airbus and QinetiQ in Portsmouth, alongside Lockheed Martin which has a foothold in Havant. The job figures are expected to rise to 50,000 by 2035.

More routes into defence apprenticeships will be provided, alongside greater work experience opportunities and direct unsuccessful candidates to other opportunities within the defence industry. The deal was signed by defence secretary Wes Streeting and industry leaders at a roundtable in London on Wednesday (September 23). It follows the Government’s £182m defence skills package announced last year, and forms part of the Government’s drive to address youth unemployment.

Mr Streeting said: “This government has delivered the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, to strengthen our deterrence and defend against evolving threats.

“We are using that investment to create new opportunities for young people, both because it is a moral emergency that a million young people are out of work or education and because without creating good, well-paid, high-skilled jobs in defence industries, we cannot keep our country safe.”

Alan Milburn, who was commissioned by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to lead the Government’s upcoming review into worklessness, called the agreement a “win-win”. He said: “Every young person deserves a first chance into work, but for too many the first rungs of the career ladder have disappeared.

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“Defence is one of our great industries – it has both the scale and the opportunity to give young people the experience, skills and confidence they need to build a career. This commitment from industry and government is exactly the kind of action that can change young people’s lives. It is a win-win. More opportunities for young people. A sustainable supply of skilled labour for industry. It shows what is possible when employers step up.”

BAE Systems boss Charles Woodburn said: “As the UK’s largest defence company, we’re committed to providing opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, offering them meaningful and rewarding careers, whilst strengthening the UK’s industrial skills base.

“Expanding pathways into defence will help to attract the breadth of talent needed to deliver the next generation of military equipment, from fighter jets and submarines to cyber, space and drone capabilities, enabling our outstanding armed forces to keep Britain safe.

“With technology developing at an unprecedented pace and global threats evolving rapidly, there’s never been a more important time to join our sector.”

Paul Livingston CBE, Lockheed Martin UK Chief Executive, said: “As a former apprentice, getting more young people into the sector is a personal mission for me and I really welcome the long-term commitment government and industry partners are making to young people. The pathway will open doors that young people thought were closed and bring huge value to themselves, the businesses they join, and the UK’s economic and national security.”

Kata Escott, Airbus Defence and Space UK Managing Director, said: “Airbus is proud to support this important national effort, leveraging our footprint across the UK to provide young people with life-changing apprenticeships and hands-on experience in some of the world’s most advanced aerospace and defence programmes. By opening new, accessible pathways into highly skilled engineering and manufacturing careers, we are not just strengthening our sovereign industrial base, but ensuring the next generation has the confidence and opportunity to succeed.”