“"This is fantastic news for Plymouth and a major vote of confidence in the work of Team Plymouth. Our city is seeing once-in-a-generation investment in defence, marine autonomy and advanced manufacturing, creating thousands of future employment opportunities. With Devonport Naval Base and major employers such as Babcock at the heart of Plymouth’s defence economy, we must ensure that local people are ready to benefit from that growth. We know employers need skilled workers and that Plymouth will need around 25,000 additional workers by 2035. Subject to the business case, this funding will help young people who are not currently in education, employment or training gain the skills, confidence and support they need to access the new jobs being created. By bringing together employers, education providers, skills partners and support services, we can help more young people who are currently not in education, employment or training gain the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to build successful careers. Team Plymouth has always championed inclusive growth. This investment will help ensure local people benefit from defence-led growth while giving employers access to the workforce they need for the future."
Plymouth Secures £3 Million Boost for Young People in Defence Sector
New funding aims to connect NEET individuals with training and career opportunities in the city's expanding defence industry.
By Tamsin Rowe
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a young person's hands holding a technical drawing with industrial elements in the background.
Plymouth is set to receive a £3 million government funding boost to help young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) access new career opportunities within the city's growing defence sector.
The significant investment, announced as part of the government's budget plans to support regional growth and key Industrial Strategy sectors, will be channelled through Team Plymouth, a public-private partnership dedicated to creating opportunities for local residents. This funding specifically targets Plymouth's strong position within the UK's defence industry, aiming to bridge the gap between young people facing employment barriers and the increasing number of jobs being created.
The announcement follows a successful place-based business case for Plymouth, highlighting the potential to maximise the benefits of defence-led economic expansion. Projections indicate that the city will require approximately 25,000 additional workers by 2035, with substantial job growth anticipated across defence, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and marine industries.
Subject to a further business case, the £3 million will be instrumental in addressing skills shortages by connecting young individuals with training programmes, apprenticeships, and career pathways into the defence sector. It will integrate existing health, employment, skills, and support services to assist those facing challenges in accessing the opportunities presented by Plymouth's dynamic economy.
This initiative builds upon the ongoing efforts of Team Plymouth's NEET Taskforce, which was established with the ambition of offering every young person under 25 not in education, employment, or training a meaningful opportunity, such as a job, apprenticeship, internship, placement, training, or a route back into education.
Further details regarding the pilot programme and the allocation of funds will be developed in collaboration with partners and employers in the coming months, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that Plymouth residents can readily access and benefit from the opportunities emerging from the city's expanding defence economy.
Based on information from the official source: Plymouth City Council (28/10/2026)
