URGENT UPDATE: A groundbreaking initiative led by Babcock International Group aims to address the critical skills shortage in the UK workforce, launching a new STEM pilot in Plymouth. This urgent effort is part of a £182 million national skills program designed to inspire a new generation of engineers and technical experts.
The announcement was made during the Engineering Skills: Powering UK Defence event held in Parliament, where industry leaders stressed the immediate need for skilled workers in the engineering, cyber, and defence sectors. The initiative targets schools with minimal engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), aiming to bridge the widening gap in the workforce.
Under the direction of Neil Young, Babcock’s Global Engineering Capability Director, the Plymouth project will kick off in March 2026 and run until July 2026. Activities will include hands-on STEM engagement sessions, focusing on students who may have never considered careers in these fields. Young stated, “The world needs more engineers and we need them now.”
The project is positioned as a model for future regional programs, with the potential to transform how local industries engage with schools in areas with significant defence activity. The initiative is part of a larger strategy under the Defence Industrial Strategy, deemed essential for the UK’s national security.
Babcock’s Chief People Officer, Louise Atkinson, emphasized the broad range of skills programs that will receive investment, including welding and cyber apprenticeships aimed at veterans. With an additional 834,000 jobs expected to be created in the next five years, the total workforce in the clean energy, defence, digital, and housebuilding industries is projected to reach 5.3 million by 2030.
This urgent STEM initiative highlights the pressing need for partnerships between industry and education to secure the talent pipeline necessary for future economic growth. As Neil Young remarked, “Our mission is to break down barriers and make engineering accessible, available, and within reach of every schoolchild in the country.”
As this initiative unfolds, all eyes will be on Plymouth as it sets a precedent for a renewed focus on engineering skills development across the UK.
