The UK Government has announced an £80 million investment to help students gain the specialist skills they need to support the long-term growth and resilience of the UK defense industry.
The funding is part of a wider £182m skills package for the Defense Industrial Strategy and aims to address ongoing shortages in high-demand areas such as engineering, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing, all seen as crucial to national security.
Ministers say the investment will enable universities and colleges to expand their capacity in strategically important areas, ensuring a stronger pool of high-skilled talent capable of supporting major defense programs and maintaining the UK’s technological edge.
Higher education providers across England can apply for funding to create additional places, expand facilities and develop industry-focused courses. The government is also working with devolved administrations to assess skills gaps and funding opportunities across the rest of the UK.
The announcement comes amid increasing cyber threats and growing concerns among defense contractors and critical infrastructure operators about the availability of skilled cyber talent.
Andy Ward, senior vice president international at Absolute Security, said the scale of recent cyber incidents underlined the urgency of closing the skills gap.
“Last year, the National Cyber Security Center reported a 50 percent increase in highly significant cyberattacks,” Ward said. “Our own research shows that almost one in five businesses experienced business interruptions lasting up to two weeks, with most facing almost five days of downtime following an attack.
“Organizations that are not prepared for rapid recovery face an almost existential threat. Prolonged downtime can ruin a business. Cyberattacks are no longer a matter of if, but when, and true resilience is impossible without strong, well-trained security teams.”
Sawan Joshi, group director of information security at FDM Group, said the speed of attacks requires continued investment in skills.
“The UK is now facing four nationally significant cyberattacks every week,” he said. “In this environment, resilience depends not only on technology, but also on people. Sustained investments in the development of young cyber talent are essential if companies want to protect sensitive data and withstand increasingly sophisticated threats.”
Beyond defense readiness, the funding also supports the Prime Minister’s broader goal of two-thirds of young people being able to either attend university or complete a gold standard education by the age of 25, as part of the Government’s plan for change.
Ministers argue that strengthening defense capabilities will not only support national security, but also create high-quality jobs, increase productivity and strengthen the UK’s position in strategic industries at a time of heightened global uncertainty.
