Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance’s Post

The Australian Government and Government of Western Australia have announced that $14.6 million will be invested in a WA Defence TAFE Centre of Excellence. The centre will operate across four South Metropolitan TAFE campuses across WA. The federal funding provided is through the five-year $325 million National Skills Agreement, which aims to “provide high quality and responsive skills training for critical and emerging industries”. “The Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence will uplift training opportunities through curriculum innovation, training pathways and programs, and higher apprenticeships to skill, upskill and reskill Western Australians for defence industry careers," said training minister Simone McGurk

Why skills matter and why our armed forces need to capitalise on this opportunity. 📈 Demand for apprenticeships is surging in the UK as young people move away from the crippling debt associated with University degrees. 📋Applications exceed capacity by 3:1 due to lack of available funding to support. The statistics say UK children are level with their German and French peers (and sometimes out perform them)…by 24 years old, our European peers have pulled ahead. Overall this drives a skills shortage which in 2019 was estimated to cost the UK economy ~£120b / year in lost output 🤯🤯🤯 This says to me that military recruitment should be moving into over drive to highlight the amazing array of courses, apprenticeships, degrees and life experiences people can get in the armed forces. Yet 54% of applicants gave up on the process in 2023 and only 1 in 10 applicants actually made it through the door (how many then passed training and stayed?!)😳😳😳 Oh and btw, many of those people will end up working in the defence sector and be future leaders… We are missing out.

Exciting developments in Scotland's shipbuilding industry! Recent data shows a significant rise in employment, with naval work directly employing over 7,000 people and providing 1,000 apprenticeships. Babcock International Group and BAE Systems are at the forefront, with Babcock currently having 180+ apprentices and 3,500 employees, and BAE Systems recruiting almost 2,700 apprentices and graduates across the UK, with construction underway on a new £12m Applied Shipbuilding Academy in Glasgow. These investments highlight the industry's commitment to skill development and job creation. David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, emphasised the importance of apprenticeships in sustaining technical skills for critical national defence programmes: “We were delighted to host the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge MP, at our Rosyth site ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship week. Apprenticeships play a really important role in workforces across the UK, ensuring we can sustain the technical skills needed to continue to deliver critical national defence programmes, while offering exciting opportunities with direct benefits to local communities.” Simon Lister, Managing Director of Naval Ships at BAE Systems, highlighted the role of world-class facilities in training a top-notch workforce: " "We have a proud tradition of equipping our apprentices with the skills and training needed to develop long and rewarding careers. They are the next generation of shipbuilders that will design and build ships for the Royal Navy for decades to come. Training a world-class workforce requires world-class facilities. That’s why, as well as our new Ship Build Hall, we are building our new Applied Shipbuilding Academy here in Glasgow, working closely with our regional partners to build sector skills.” #defencejobs #royalnavy #maritimejobs #navaljobs #nationaldefence

It’s Day 6 of National Apprenticeship Week! Today’s theme is Federal Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship. Veterans bring discipline, problem-solving skills, and leadership—qualities essential for hands-on careers. Federal apprenticeship programs offer veterans a structured pathway to translate their military skills into in-demand trades like HVAC, construction, IT, and advanced manufacturing. Apprenticeships allow veterans to earn while they learn, helping them transition smoothly into civilian careers with little financial burden. By investing in veteran-focused programs, we not only honor their service but also fill critical workforce gaps. Businesses benefit from this highly skilled talent pool while veterans build new, rewarding careers. Let’s continue creating opportunities that recognize veterans' contributions and pave the way for lifelong learning and success. #NAW2024 #DecadeOfNAW #ApprenticeshipUSA #Veterans #WorkforceDevelopment #Military #EarnAndLearn U.S. Department of Labor

MY CONTINUED OUTRAGE WITH THE EDUCATIONAL LADERSHIP AND OFSTED   My followers will recall my outrage that OFSTED has continued its Inspections without any apparent deep review of its aims, objectives and negative effects on the quality of education for everyone n this country. Last night I saw on TV that there is another drive to get more teachers in schools to ‘Inspire’ our children. This is in addition to trying to get more part-timers from industry into FE to ‘give back and make a difference’.   After my 30 years in the Armed Forces, I can tell everyone now that you cannot get an ‘inspired’ front-line without inspired leadership to back everyone up. This is particularly true in the Royal Navy where everyone fights, wins, sinks or dies under the direct leadership of the captain of the ship. Nelson very much understood this and totally trusted his captains as individuals to fight their ships as hard as possible and win. As an experienced member of a NATO Battlestaff I am still in awe of his overall battle order at Trafalgar: "No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy" – Nelson had every confidence that the consequence this single sentence would be the complete annihilation, or preferably, surrender of the enemy. Unfortunately, having now been in Further Education for the last 15 years I have absolutely no confidence that the Educational Leadership is unselfishly dedicated to the ensuring that every single child, young person, vulnerable adult and adult student is given the best possible educational opportunities and support in their lives. As far as I am concerned, beyond the primacy of safeguarding every learner, if you are an educational leader and you are not absolutely driven by this aim you should f**k off somewhere else where you can do less damage!   Having failed to establish any of my new teaching and learning initiatives at Exeter College, I have now moved to the Cornwall Colleges Group to have another go – and this time the signs are good that I might have more success, particularly in enabling the Group to deliver the essential modules to underpin the Engineering Apprenticeship and Higher Apprenticeship programmes. I’ll keep you informed what’s happening –FYI - I’d like to be invited back to the ETF as a Technical Expert Panel Member or as an advisor to OFSTED on how to deliver the Apprenticeship programmes, but that would mean numerous people in higher leadership positions would have to back down from their egos.

BAE Systems has announced that they will add an additional 2400 apprentices and graduates by next year with approximately 1300 based in the North of England. 

🚨 Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers! West is proud to partner with BAE Systems on our pioneering Schools Vocational Programme, offering local pupils hands-on experience in shipbuilding and a pathway to an apprenticeship. Now in it's 3rd year, the pre-apprenticeship programme provides the West Dunbartonshire school pupils immersive training and direct engagement with BAE Systems’ naval shipyards in Glasgow, developing vital skills while still at school. Find out more: https://ow.ly/wyK850UfOek

🚨 BAE Systems has announced plans to hire more than 2,400 new apprentices, undergraduates, and graduates next year, bringing the total number of young people in training to a record-breaking 6,500 – around 15% of its UK workforce. By the end of next year, the British engineering giant's investment in education and skills is expected to reach £1 billion since the start of the decade.

🚨 Exciting News for Registered Apprenticeship Providers and Veterans! 🚨 The Supreme Court’s recent decision expands GI Bill benefits, paving the way for registered apprenticeship providers to offer even greater opportunities for veterans looking to build meaningful careers. This landmark ruling is a game-changer for bridging the gap between military service and civilian success. It strengthens the support system for veterans transitioning into in-demand industries through hands-on training and skill development. Check out our latest blog for insights and actionable takeaways at https://lnkd.in/gunvdjx6. Let’s work together to create a more veteran-ready workforce! 💪 #Fastport #RegisteredApprenticeship #GIBill #VeteranRecruiting #WorkforceReady #VeteranReady 

⭐ 🚢 We recently caught up with Engagement and Social Value Manager for Maritime Services, Rachel Wing, at HMNB Portsmouth. As well as giving us a tour of the SD Northern River, Rachel told us a bit about the Empower apprenticeship she’s doing with Serco. The Empower programme is designed by women for women, to support the growth of female leaders within Serco. 💬 Rachel explained why she was interested to take part, “The course is a great opportunity to develop your leadership skills. I had already taken a step towards a voluntary leadership role in co-chairing the Serco Women in Defence network which has grown my confidence, and I have equally enjoyed the opportunity to support others in developing themselves. “The networking aspect of the course encourages engagement and collaboration with colleagues from across all parts of Serco in a wide range of roles, enabling us to share our lived experiences and enhance our skills by sharing best practice and generating new ideas.” Meet some more of our apprentices https://lnkd.in/eSkaQAyg #SercoStories #ImpactABetterFuture #NAW2025 #SkillsForLife #Apprenticeships