- Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Scotland risks missing out on increased defence spending if persistent skills shortages are not addressed while the negative approach to the industry by the SNP Government may be damaging jobs, a new report by a powerful Westminster committee warns.
uncertain
report → click → committee
The Scottish Affairs Committee said apprenticeships and technical training north of the Border is not keeping pace with future workforce needs and this will damage the ability to deliver the UK defence strategy and benefit from increased investment.
asserted
this → say → investment
It cited industry concerns that SNP Government policies have led to ‘negative perceptions’ of the defence sector which continue to affect recruitment and business sustainability.
asserted
which → cite → recruitment
The report also highlighted that the UK Government has said only one defence technical excellence college (DTEC) will be built in Scotland unless the Holyrood Government matches the funding it has provided to create a second centre.
asserted
it → highlight → centre
Opposition politicians said the report must be a ‘wake-up call’ for John Swinney and his SNP Government.
asserted
report → say → Swinney
Patricia Ferguson, chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee, said: ‘Scotland has a world-leading defence sector and is well-placed to benefit from increased UK defence spending.
asserted
Scotland → say → spending
However, unless long-standing skills shortages are addressed, this opportunity could be missed.
uncertain
opportunity → stand → ?
‘One of the main ways skills trainings can be expanded is through DTECs, which have the potential to strengthen Scotland’s skills pipeline and expand access to high-quality apprenticeships that can support the UK’s defence ambitions.
asserted
that → expand → ambitions
The committee hopes to see the UK and Scottish Government’s work together to deliver both proposed DTECs in Scotland and, more widely, that Scotland can accelerate work to develop the skills base its defence sector needs.
‘
asserted
sector → hop → base
It’s also important that Scottish defence SMEs get the support they need to grow.
asserted
they → ’ → support
Removing barriers to defence supply chains and improving engagement with prime contractors will help unlock their full potential and help make sure the economic benefits of defence investment can be felt across Scotland.’
The Committee’s report, published on Tuesday, found that increased investment in defence has the potential to create highly skilled jobs in Scotland, strengthen supply chains and support economic growth.
asserted
investment → remove → growth
Patricia Ferguson, chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee, has warned opportunities could be missed
Opposition politicians said the report must be a ‘wake-up call’ for John Swinney
But it found that skills shortages are ‘one of the most significant challenges facing the sector’ and called for the UK and Scottish governments to work together with greater urgency to address the issue.
uncertain
shortages → warn → issue
The Committee report said: ‘We heard that negative perceptions of the defence sector continue to affect recruitment and business sustainability.
asserted
perceptions → say → recruitment
Some witnesses expressed a view that Scottish Government policies have also contributed to detrimental perceptions.’
asserted
policies → express → perceptions
The report highlighted that Babcock had to hire 300 welders from the Philippines to work at its Rosyth plant last October due to a lack of skilled applicants from the UK.
asserted
Babcock → highlight → UK
It also raised concerns about the Ministry of Defence only allocating £20million for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from a £182million direct skills investment fund and demanded an explanation of how the figure is ‘commensurate with the size, importance and potential of Scotland’s defence sector’.
asserted
figure → raise → sector
The document said that if the Scottish Government doesn’t provide matched funding to create a second DTEC then ‘an important opportunity will be lost’.
asserted
opportunity → say → DTEC
Scottish Conservative deputy leader and business spokesman Rachael Hamilton said: ‘This stark report must be a wake-up call for John Swinney and the SNP government.
asserted
report → say → Swinney
Their grievance politics and narrow-mindedness have undermined Scotland’s defence sector, which is vital for jobs and Scotland’s economy, for far too long.
asserted
which → undermine → jobs
‘In an increasingly uncertain world, the nationalists should be doing all they can to support investment and jobs in the industry, but instead they have been hostile to it.
asserted
they → do → it
Their atrocious failures in education and funding apprenticeship places are directly behind this alarming skills shortage in Scotland’s workforce.
asserted
failures → fund → workforce
‘Both of Scotland’s governments must urgently work together to boost defence spending, back the thousands of jobs the sector supports and prioritise protecting our national security.’
Gavin Donoghue, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: ‘We welcome the committee’s recognition that skills shortages are one of the most significant challenges facing the defence sector in Scotland.
asserted
shortages → work → Scotland
Colleges are Scotland’s skills engines and, with the right investment, stand ready to help deliver the vocational and technical education needed for a growing defence industry.’
asserted
Colleges → stand → industry
A UK Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland is a defence industrial powerhouse and is already benefiting from increased defence investment.
asserted
Scotland → say → investment
Ministry of Defence spending with industry in Scotland directly supported 12,200 jobs in 2024/25, up from 11,400 the previous year.
asserted
spending → support → 11,400
‘We recognise that developing the skilled workforce needed to support Scotland’s growing defence sector is essential to building on that success.
asserted
developing → recognise → success
That is why we launched Scotland’s £50 million Defence Growth Deal, including £10 million support for two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges and wider initiatives to help develop the skills pipeline needed for future defence jobs, innovation and economic growth.
asserted
we → launch → jobs
‘We continue to urge the Scottish Government to match fund these colleges so our young people gain the skills they need to secure high-skilled, well-paid careers in Scotland’s defence industries.’
asserted
they → continue → industries
The Scottish Government was asked for comment.
asserted
Government → ask → comment
The Aporia
