Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in his Department.

The Armed Forces are the UK’s largest provider of apprenticeships, with over 23,000 personnel enrolled at any time and more than 95% of non-commissioned recruits offered trade-aligned apprenticeships. On average, 7.5% of personnel start an apprenticeship annually, with over 10% actively participating at any time.

In the 2024 Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, all three Services ranked in the top five, contributing 16% of all placements. Apprenticeships range from Level 2 (GCSE) to Level 6 (degree), supporting career-long development and professional development.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) plays a key role in developing new apprenticeship standards through ‘Trailblazer’ groups and collaborates with industry to ensure qualifications are relevant both within Defence and beyond. The MOD also actively promotes apprenticeships through networks like the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the 5% Club.

The MOD has implemented several strategies to increase the number of apprenticeships starts among its civilian staff, offering a wide range of apprenticeship schemes ranging from GCSE to graduate level, across various professions and standards. Procurement has been brought in-house to collaborate with training providers. This partnership allows for a broader range of apprenticeship programmes in high-demand areas like Engineering, Digital, and Project Management. These schemes aim to attract individuals seeking to kickstart or advance their careers within the MOD.