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Defence: Skilled Workers

Asked by Kevin BonaviaLabourMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 1 June 2026UIN 900126

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve skills in the defence workforce.

Answered by Luke Pollard

Alongside the Defence Industrial Strategy, we announced a £182 million skills package, encompassing a range of initiatives to increase skills across the UK.

This includes launching five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges across England and our intention to do so in Wales and Scotland; providing more funding to universities and colleges to increase capacity on defence-focused Higher Education courses; and supporting mid-career professionals upskill to work in the UK’s leading defence sector.

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