Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the ratio of STEM-related MOD Apprenticeship schemes to Civilian MOD Apprenticeship schemes.

There has been no specific assessment undertaken on the policy implications of ratios of Civil Service to Military STEM apprenticeships. Both organisations separately draw upon the government apprenticeship levy reducing the impact of any policy changes relating to the ratio of Military to Civil Service apprenticeships. STEM apprenticeship schemes are strongly supported across both the Civil Service and Military commands and are a priority as we look to the future of apprenticeships.

The Ministry of Defence is the largest single deliverer of apprenticeships in the UK, with over 24,000 personnel employed on a nationally recognised apprenticeship programme at any one time. Over 95% of our non-commissioned military recruits are offered an apprenticeship aligned to their trade training and 7.5% of Armed Forces personnel have started an apprenticeship in the last two years. In addition, 3.6% of our Civil Service workforce is currently undertaking an apprenticeship, spanning over 80+ different apprenticeship programmes within a variety of sectors and professional areas, working to build a skilled workforce fit for the future.

Defence's commitment to apprenticeship provision is recognised by the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings 2024, with Army (1), RN (2), RAF (4) and Civil Service (33). Collectively, 130 apprenticeships are offered across the three Services and the Civil Service, ranging from Aeronautical Engineering to Clinical Healthcare Support and Nuclear.