A new industry-led group has been created to ensure that high value skills in the defence sector can be effectively redeployed in the wake of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
The Skills and Jobs Retention Group will be chaired by Allan Cook, the current chairman of SEMTA (Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies) and the former CEO of the defence system company Cobham.
The group’s remit will be to explore how skilled workers can be retained in the advanced manufacturing sector, by working with industry to redeploy affected employees to other sectors such as civil aerospace, automotive, energy and marine.
The SDSR published on Tuesday has set out how we can deliver national security both effectively and efficiently in a tough economic climate.
It included difficult decisions that will have industrial implications but it also reinforced the importance of the relationship with industry. The Ministry of Defence still expects to spend around £60 billion with UK suppliers over the next four years.
The purchase of two aircraft carriers maintains the UK’s ability to design and build complex warships, including the next generation of frigates. This will sustain some 20,000 jobs in UK shipbuilding and see investment of around £10Billion over the next 10 years.
In a statement, Business Secretary Vince Cable stated that “the Government recognises the important contribution that the defence sector makes to the wider economy through high value jobs, intellectual property rights, export revenues and as a key sponsor of apprenticeships and training.
“I want to ensure that wherever possible we retain the talented individuals leaving the defence industry within the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector which is why I am today announcing an industry led group to look at how we can help redeploy skilled engineers affected by the SDSR”
The group will comprise of a small team of senior industry figures with experience in defence and advanced engineering and manufacturing and will be supported by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
It will provide a forum for companies across UK manufacturing and engineering to work together to make the most of the skills that may become available for redeployment. This will complement the activities of DWP and Job Centre Plus.
Chairman of Atkins and Chairman of SEMTA Allan Cook said: “The aerospace and defence industry is a major employer in the UK, providing high value employment and supporting a wide range of skills across science, engineering, production, service, training and finance.
“The UK cannot compete internationally without highly skilled workers developing engineering solutions and building new products so it is vital for future economic growth that we do all that we can to retain these skills within the advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors.”
