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FinanceBabcock and Oxford launch national study on UK defence engineering skills
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Babcock International Group, in collaboration with the University of Oxford's SKOPE research centre, has launched a national skills study titled 'Engineering the Future of Defence' at the Farnborough International Airshow. The initiative aims to address the growing gap between engineering education and the rapidly evolving needs of the UK defence sector, driven by advances in AI, autonomous systems, cyber security, and advanced manufacturing. The study will involve interviews with government, academic, and industry leaders, followed by a nationwide survey of UK STEM talent. Findings will be compiled into a report co-authored with SKOPE, due in autumn 2026, to inform evidence-based policy. Babcock has also been recognized for its workforce development, rising to 12th in the Department for Education's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings and taking on over 1,600 new graduates and apprentices in the 2025/26 period.
Source report
Babcock International Group has launched a national skills study aimed at ensuring the UK has the engineering capabilities needed to support future defence capability, national security and technological sovereignty, the company announced.
Initiative Overview
The programme, titled Engineering the Future of Defence, was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow. It has been developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE).
The initiative will bring together government, academia and industry to examine how engineering education can keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies, including:
- Artificial intelligence
- Autonomous systems
- Cyber security
- Advanced manufacturing
This effort coincides with growth in the defence sector driven by increased investment.
Research Methodology and Timeline
The programme will open with a series of in-depth interviews involving representatives from government, academia and industry. This will be followed by a nationwide survey of UK STEM talent intended to gauge the aspirations and challenges facing future defence engineers.
Findings will feed into a report co-authored with SKOPE, due to be published in autumn 2026. The report aims to inform evidence-based policy discussions and strengthen the UK’s long-term engineering capability.
According to the company, the study will focus on the growing gap between engineering curricula and industry requirements at a time when demand for specialist skills continues to outpace supply.
Key Quotes
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Growth Officer at Babcock, stated:
“Defence is undergoing one of the most profound periods of technological transformation in a generation. From autonomous systems and digital engineering to artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, the pace of change is accelerating rapidly. At the same time, the sector faces a critical challenge: ensuring we have the skills and talent pipeline needed to deliver and sustain these capabilities. This is not a challenge for any one organisation to solve alone. Alongside the University of Oxford’s SKOPE research centre, we’re bringing together industry, academia and government to better understand how engineering education and workforce development can evolve to meet future needs. If we want to maintain sovereign capability and national resilience, we must invest in the people who will design, build and support the systems of tomorrow.”
James Robson, Director of SKOPE at Oxford’s Department of Education, added:
“At SKOPE, our aim is to understand the links between skills and knowledge, performance and productivity, and economic futures, and working alongside Babcock to examine this for the defence sector is already proving to be fertile ground for breakthrough findings. We’re deep-diving into the skills ecosystem in defence, and speaking to those studying and preparing for their engineering careers, to uncover what an evolution in defence and engineering skills should look like. Crucially, we’ll also consider what is needed from a policy perspective and from industry leaders to enable this transformation, and set up the defence sector for decades of success.”
Industry Context
The initiative was introduced during a Farnborough panel discussion featuring representatives from Babcock, the University of Oxford, the Royal Academy of Engineering and wider skills stakeholders.
Babcock’s Workforce Development Recognition
The announcement follows recognition of Babcock’s own workforce development activity:
- Rose from 29th to 12th place in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings
- Secured a Top 20 position in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026
- Took on more than 1,600 new graduates and apprentices over the 2025/26 period
- Continues to invest in skills areas including cyber security, advanced manufacturing, nuclear engineering and space systems
The company’s Emerging Talent Programme was recognised at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026, where Babcock received:
- Large Employer Skills Champion of the Year
- New Talent Inspiration Programme of the Year
Source
UK Defence JournalWestern
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Babcock and Oxford Launch National Study on Defence Engineering Skills