Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2023 to Question 1812 on Defence: Employment, whether his Department has established partnerships with (a) universities and (b) other educational institutions to ensure access to skilled graduates.

Defence has established strong partnerships with a range of universities and other educational establishments to ensure access to skilled graduates. For example, the Armed Forces have embedded training and engagement organisations within universities which support graduates in aligning their post-study employment with a career in the Armed Forces. Organisations such as the University Royal Naval Units, University Officers’ Training Corps, University Air Squadrons all provide access to highly motivated and skilled graduates.

In addition, Defence offers bursaries through the Defence Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Undergraduate Sponsorship (DSUS) Scheme and conducts a wide range of outreach activities. These seek to highlight opportunities in Defence, and how graduates can enjoy fulfilling careers as a result of their qualifications and skills. A number of educational establishments deliver qualifications aligned to employment in the Armed Forces as well as signposting Armed Forces employment through their Careers and Employability Services.

Defence also utilises its educational partnerships to upskill Armed Forces personnel with Further or Higher qualifications for the benefit of Defence outputs. These arrangements range from mandatory programmes aligned to specific Armed Forces roles through to voluntarily accessed personal development programmes. The Armed Forces Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme provides significant access support to those personnel voluntarily undertaking such further study. Graduate and masters’ level apprenticeships also develop higher-level skills for Defence in partnership with multiple Universities and other educational institutions.

The Ministry of Defence is also part of the Defence Suppliers Framework (DSF), a collaboration with UK Defence Industries to look at the skills needed for the UK Defence Industrial Base (DIB). The DSF interfaces with academia to promote the skills the UK DIB requires from future graduates.

For Defence civilians, many individual professions and functions have their own schemes, with key examples including the Future STEM scheme for Defence Science and Technology Laboratory which involves a structured sequence of placements with different partners in industry and academia; the DSUS Scheme, which is supporting students and encourage them to pursue careers in Defence, addressing recruitment for the National Cyber Force; the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Early Careers Operating Model, which will promote early career opportunities in Defence through strategic academic partnerships following planned implementation from April 2024; and participation in both the Civil Service Fast Stream (https://www.faststream.gov.uk/index.html) and its Summer Internship Programme: (https://www.faststream.gov.uk/summer-internship-programme/index.html).