Plans confirmed for Scottish Defence Technical Excellence Colleges

Scotland’s Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has confirmed a £10 million investment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) for Scotland, matching the UK Government’s Defence Growth Deal commitment launched by the Scottish Secretary on 12 March, committing £10 million towards the creation of two DTECs for Scotland.

Plans are underway to allocate sites in the east and west of the country to support the development of skills for well-paid careers in areas such as defence engineering, advanced manufacturing and maritime technology. The Colleges in the East and West of Scotland will serve to upskill young people, enabling them to benefit from good, well-paid jobs in Scotland’s growing defence sector.

Scotland already benefits from over £2 billion a year in UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) spending, which supports more than 12,000 jobs.

How the colleges will help Scotland seize opportunities across the defence sector

Along with Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, Alyn Smith wrote to Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard and Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander last Thursday, to confirm the Scottish Government will match the UK Government’s £10 million funding (announced in March) required to underpin future industrial growth and competitiveness.

Alyn said: “Scotland is well placed to seize the opportunities arising out of the defence industry – with a highly skilled workforce, world-class colleges and universities and internationally recognised manufacturing. DTECs will allow workers to upskill and connect the next generation to opportunities in sectors where demand for a highly-skilled workforce is rising rapidly.

“I am pleased to confirm we will partner with the UK Government to develop plans for DTECs in Scotland and build on the £3.7 billion to Scotland’s economy provided by the defence sector. Our Programme for Government committed to establishing a responsible defence industrial growth programme to maximise the economic opportunities arising from increased defence spending. We will work with partners to ensure our workers are equipped with the right skills for emerging jobs in this vital sector.”

Consultation will be held to understand which colleges can achieve DTEC status and how to implement this.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision: “In March we announced a £10 million commitment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Scotland. I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has now agreed to match fund these colleges to give our young people the skills they need to secure high-skilled, well-paid careers in Scotland’s defence sector in the years to come.

“Scotland is a defence industrial powerhouse and is already benefiting from increased UK Government investment as we deliver a defence dividend for Scotland, creating new skilled jobs, new training places and new opportunities for communities while keeping us and our allies secure. It is crucial that we continue to develop the skilled workforce needed to support this growing sector.”

Location, location, location: supporting Scotland’s defence clusters

The DTECs will help provide new specialist pathways into into one of the UK’s most dynamic and fastest-growing industries, connecting the next generation to opportunities in sectors where demand for skilled workers is rising rapidly.

They will help to nurture the high-skilled, well-paid careers in defence engineering, advanced manufacturing and maritime technology which are coming to Scotland and are being located to support Scotland’s defence clusters in the East and West of the country, benefitting from the engineering and innovation centres previously announced as part of the Scottish Defence Growth Deal.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said: “Finally matching DTEC funding is welcome news for Scottish careers. The colleges will provide routes into high-skilled, well-paid roles in the defence sector which is crucial to the work of keeping the UK safe around the clock.

“This is an important part of our £50 million Defence Growth Deal – announced back in March – to boost growth opportunities for Scotland that supports our Armed Forces.”

Industry analysis suggests there could be demand for up to 50,000 additional defence jobs across the UK by 2034/35.