To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) quantity of apprenticeships within the (i) Armed Forces and (ii) associated supply chains.
Answered on
10 March 2025
The Armed Forces is the largest single deliverer of apprenticeships in the UK, with over 23,000 personnel employed on a nationally recognised apprenticeship programmes at any one time and over 95 per cent of our non-commissioned military recruits offered an apprenticeship aligned to their trade training. That represents an annual average of 7.5 per cent of Armed Forces personnel starting an apprenticeship in the last three years and over 10 per cent on programme at any one time.
The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list 2024 (as ranked by the Department of Education, DfE) saw all three Services named in the top five places. The Armed Forces provided 16 per cent of all apprenticeship places within the Top 100 and continue to add more apprenticeships every year.
Defence needs a skilled, sustainable, capable workforce that are trained and equipped to defend the nation’s interests. The Armed Forces apprenticeship programme is intrinsic to the achievement of this aim. The majority of the apprenticeships completed by military personnel are delivered at level 2 (GCSE) and level 3 (A Level), but they are increasingly available at higher levels up to degree level (level 6), which supports an individual’s through-career personal and professional development. The apprenticeship opportunities coupled with the inclusion of Functional Skills in Literacy and Numeracy also act a key contributor to social mobility through military Service. All apprenticeships are rigorously evaluated with the DfE to ensure quality and applicability.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is also actively involved in ‘Trailblazer’ groups which develop new apprenticeship standards. The standards are developed in collaboration with other employers from the different sectors of industry, meaning Armed Forces personnel are being equipped for Defence roles whilst also qualified to contribute to wider society when they transition to new opportunities at the end of their Defence careers.
The MOD is also an active and valued member of apprenticeship network groups where we help promote and champion the opportunities on offer. The two key bodies to which we contribute are the Government backed Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the 5% Club, the latter being an employer movement working to drive forward a nationwide ‘Earn and Learn’ agenda. The MOD is a Platinum member of the 5% Club, with over 10% of our workforce in ‘Earn and Learn’ positions.
The MOD is unable to comment on the quality and quantity of apprenticeships within our supply chains as this is a matter for individual companies.