UK to build 5 technical colleges to train defence workers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Britain's PM Keir Starmer has put investment in defence at the heart of its plan to increase military spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2035.
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON – The UK will spend £182 million (S$315 million) to establish five technical colleges to train workers for defence jobs and encourage military innovation.
The government announced the plans on Sept 6 to develop submarine engineers, cyber warfare specialists and welders. The programme will also fund thousands of short courses so defence employers can more quickly upskill existing staff and new hires in key technical skills.
Applications for the programme are set to open by the end of 2025, with the colleges to be opened in 2026.
“This is the biggest defence skills plan in decades,” Defence Secretary John Healey said in a statement. “It’s British workers who gave UK companies the leading edge in defence innovation and industry.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is set to unveil its defence industrial strategy on Sept 8.
Mr Starmer has put investment in defence at the heart of its plan to increase military spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2035, including allocations to universities.
His reshuffle of the UK Cabinet on Sept 5 is aimed at bolstering growth and deriving economic benefits from increased military spending.
Mr Starmer visited workers at BAE Systems Plc at its Govan yard near Glasgow this week after winning a £10 billion contract from Norway to build Type-26 frigates to detect, track down and combat submarines. BLOOMBERG
