Industry urged to back 30% growth in UK Cadet Forces by 2035

The UK’s first National Cadets Week – taking place from 5-11 October – is shining a spotlight on more than just youth achievement.

It also marks the launch of the Cadets Action Plan, which aims to expand the UK’s cadet forces by 30% over the next decade, adding around 40,000 young people and the volunteers needed to support them.

The challenges around that growth were discussed in the latest Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage podcast, presented by the Council on Geostrategy in partnership with ADS Group and sponsored by BAE Systems.

Brigadier Anthony Lamb and Squadron Leader Kath Lane of the RAF Air Cadets’ Cumbria and Lancashire Wing joined host Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė to discuss what expansion will require from defence, employers and wider society.

Brigadier Lamb described the expansion as a national effort, saying: “This is a call to action. We have an ambitious aspiration to grow by 30% – that’s another 40,000 young people and the additional adult volunteers. We can’t do this alone.

“There is an opportunity to work very closely with wider society, whether it’s industry and the third sector and charities, but equally it’s an opportunity for us to work cross-government as well.”  

Industry support needed for UK Cadet Forces growth

Brigadier Lamb said the first phase would focus on strengthening the organisation and building the foundations for sustainable growth.

Adult volunteers will be central to that, with Lamb describing them as “the critical enablers for growth”.

Supporting them will require permanent staff, digital services and infrastructure that make it easier for volunteers to balance their contribution with work and family commitments.

“We are not going to be able to grow by 30% by 2035 without help from society,” he said.

“So engaging with industry, engaging with the third sector, engaging with other government departments, it is important that we have them all in step with us as we grow.”

For employers, that support could range from volunteering policies and additional leave for cadet force adult volunteers, through to providing expertise, facilities and career engagement opportunities.

Cadet infrastructure creates opportunities for industry

Finding enough suitable places for young people to train is another challenge.

Brigadier Lamb said parts of the cadet estate were old and in need of repair, but stressed that finding a solution should not fall to defence alone.

“It isn’t just a defence problem to solve.”

“We want to engage with industry to look at alternative, innovative solutions to find other ways to provide safe estate for the cadets, and we know that that’s something that we’ve got to get right.”

Lane said companies should take a realistic, strategic approach to the support they can offer.

“I think taking that strategic approach, making sure you’re clear on what you can and you can’t commit to is really important.”

She pointed to the potential for businesses to make use of their own sites, as well as digital tools, to support cadet activities.

Drawing on BAE Systems’ experience, Lane highlighted how companies can host cadets on operational sites, support virtual activities and create opportunities for young people to engage directly with industry.

“I think industry could do a lot more around the infrastructure side, and be looking at different innovative ways to be able to host the cadets and to support delivery of those experiences.”

Cadets develop aviation, cyber and STEM skills

The discussion also highlighted the range of technical and transferable skills cadets can develop.

From an Air Cadet perspective, Lane identified aviation, cyber and space as three core areas, alongside wider experience that can be applied in other settings.

Currently, more than 2,000 cadets complete cyber training each year, while over 1,000 annually take part in a Civil Aviation Authority-accredited drone flying programme.

She added, “There’s so much more to it as well, you know, project management, finance, business elements, all of those things come into play with so many activities that we do with the cadets.”

Cadet activities also aim to build confidence, teamwork, discipline and resilience while exposing young people to opportunities they may not previously have considered.

For defence and aerospace employers facing long-term skills shortages, the expansion could also help broaden awareness of careers in aviation, engineering, cyber and space among the next generation

Employers central to sustainable cadet expansion

By 2035, Brigadier Lamb said success would mean more young people participating from every community and background, a stronger volunteer base, modern facilities and digital services, and closer partnerships across government, education, charities, employers and industry.

Ultimately, he said the ambition was for cadets to be recognised as “a national youth asset”, rather than simply a defence activity.

“We want recognition that cadets are a national youth asset,” he said. “They’re not simply a defence activity, but they are part and parcel of society.”

What is the Cadets Action Plan?

The Strategic Defence Review has set out a clear mandate to reconnect defence with society. Central to this vision is a renewed focus on young people, and specifically an ambitious target to expand the UK’s cadet forces by 30% by the end of this decade

The Cadets Action Plan is the roadmap behind the growth strategy. Its objectives include:

• Expanding cadet participation by 30%
• Recruiting and retaining more adult volunteers
• Reaching underserved communities
• Strengthening partnerships with employers
• Modernising facilities and digital infrastructure
• Improving recognition of cadet achievements

What is happening during National Cadets Week?

National Cadets Week runs from 5-11 October 2026 and includes:

• The launch of the Cadets Action Plan
• A cadet takeover of Whitehall departments
• Volunteer celebration events
• Case studies showcasing life-saving first aid
• Employer and industry engagement activities
• Open days at local cadet units

The week is designed to raise awareness of both cadets and the nearly 30,000 volunteers who help deliver the experience.

What is the Defence Talks podcast?

Defence Talks: Securing UK Advantage is produced by the Council on Geostrategy in partnership with ADS Group and sponsored by BAE Systems.

The podcast, now in its third season, brings together leaders from government, defence, industry and academia to discuss the issues shaping UK security and prosperity.

You can listen to previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or discover the full series here.