Major UK defence contractors have pledged to provide 40,000 opportunities a year for 18 to 24-year-olds by 2030, spanning apprenticeships, work experience and permanent jobs.
The annual commitment is due to increase to 50,000 by 2035. BAE Systems, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, Babcock, Thales and Airbus are among the companies involved. The firms also plan to direct unsuccessful applicants towards other opportunities in the defence supply chain, an approach intended to keep young candidates connected to possible routes into the sector.
The pledge puts a spotlight on the value of work experience and employer-led training at a time of concern about youth unemployment and skills gaps. Its delivery will depend on employers converting the commitment into accessible placements and sustained roles.
Commenting on the initiative in a media alert shared with Onrec, Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, said:
“Alternate pathways into employment like apprenticeships and tailored upskilling programmes can help attract and develop a major talent pool that may have been overlooked.”
Flavell called for stronger access to opportunities for candidates from diverse backgrounds, especially as AI changes traditional job roles. The pledge gives recruitment teams another route to consider when building early-career pipelines.
Source: The Guardian, 23 September 2026; FDM Group media comment supplied to Onrec.
