Skip to content

Shaping the Defence Workforce of Tomorrow

City College is Plymouth’s anchor institution for skills, meeting the needs of the defence and maritime sectors. Through tailored training, world-class facilities, and close collaboration across the city and the region, we play a vital role in developing the defence workforce of tomorrow. We work with hundreds of employers and more than 1,630 students to prepare them for the defence jobs of the future. Careers in the defence sector offer a strong sense of fulfilment, the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge innovations, and the reward of a highly competitive salary.

What we do

The College offers a diverse portfolio of industry-focused courses in engineering, cyber security, marine autonomous vehicles, protective services, and fabrication and welding. These programmes equip students with the technical expertise, discipline, and problem-solving skills essential for careers in defence. Developed in close collaboration with industry leaders, our courses ensure graduates are not only highly qualified but also workplace-ready, maintaining a consistent and strong pipeline of skilled professionals.

We deliver this from a unique location where defence, innovation, and education converge. We are within close reach of Devonport Dockyard, the largest naval base in Western Europe, a facility critical to national defence with which we have developed strong collaboration and partnership. The College is also at the heart of a city recognised as the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, strengthening Plymouth’s dynamic position in this field. With more than 7,100 skilled professionals employed in marine manufacturing, representing 21% of the UK’s blue-tech and marine sector workforce and 11.3% of all city employment, Plymouth and the surrounding region benefit from a thriving ecosystem of marine expertise. This recognition opens doors for collaboration within the defence sector, reinforces Plymouth’s global reputation in marine autonomy, and provides a platform for future growth.

Meet William – Success Story

William, a Naval Architect at Babcock International Group, chose a hands-on route into the maritime industry, bypassing the traditional academic path after school. He began his career with an Apprenticeship in Engineering Management at the Ministry of Defence, gaining three years of invaluable experience in the marine industry at Devonport Dockyard. This foundation helped him progress into a role at Babcock, where he specialised in engineering design for submarines, focusing on 3D modelling and technical drawings.

Although he once thought he was finished with education, William soon realised the value of further study and enrolled on a part-time Foundation Degree in Naval Architecture at City College Plymouth. Attending College one day a week, he explored areas such as boat stability, construction, and even the design and build of autonomous boats – all directly linked to his role. Completing the degree allowed him to progress into his current role as a Naval Architect, and he now has his sights set on further qualifications.

What we do

The College takes pride in shaping the individuals who keep our Armed Forces and supporting industries at the forefront of defence. Many of these journeys begin with education. We are at the forefront of developing the defence workforce of the future today, and here is how we do it.

Working closely with global defence employers such as Babcock International Group, employer engagement is central to meeting the constantly evolving needs of the industry. We understand the skills and expertise defence companies require and ensure our training programmes and courses are designed to match those needs precisely. Babcock’s Nuclear Skills Director, Debbie Joce, describes the College as “a genuine extension of our team, a relationship of true collaboration and partnership.” By aligning our offering with employer requirements, we support our nation’s security and help defence companies future-proof their talent pipeline.

Our state-of-the-art specialist facilities are tailored specifically to the needs of the defence and nuclear sectors and prepare students for careers in the defence sector. From advanced engineering workshops to digital simulation suites, we provide real-world training environments in the heart of Britain’s naval city, designed in partnership with industry to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

The Engineering and Nuclear Skills building, developed in partnership with Babcock and the National College for Nuclear, offers cutting-edge learning experiences through immersive classrooms, AR/VR laboratories, mechatronics workshops, and specialist fabrication zones. These facilities equip students and employees with advanced skills, meaning we can drive regional workforce development and support social mobility through exceptional training and education.

Our Blue Green Skills Hub, located in Plymouth’s Civic Centre, is a new facility currently being developed in collaboration with Plymouth City Council and Homes England. Designed to deliver more than 60 courses annually and train up to 2,000 learners each year in the maritime and defence sectors, it has been described as ‘talismanic.’ Set in a newly transformed destination in a building that has lain derelict for many years, we will offer new courses in the marine and environmental sectors, including engineering, nuclear, offshore wind, green energy technology, retrofit skills, and life sciences.

The Centre of Higher Technical Innovation and Maritime Skills (TIMS), located within the Oceansgate Marine Enterprise Zone, is a groundbreaking facility designed to meet local, regional, and national needs for advanced technical and maritime education. Through it we offer higher education courses and specialist training in fields including marine engineering, autonomous marine systems, manufacturing, composites, and digital maritime technologies. This helps address skills shortages in the blue, maritime, and defence sectors by delivering employer-focused, demand-led programmes that build technical expertise and foster leadership in innovation.

City College Plymouth successfully joined the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, one of only two providers in the South West helping people acquire the skills needed to support growth in the evolving nuclear sector. A cornerstone of the Government’s response to nuclear skills provision, NCfN is a boost for the civil and defence sector, where workforce numbers are estimated to double over the next 20 years, bringing around 80,000 additional jobs across the UK. The College is delivering a progressive ‘skills for nuclear’ and ‘nuclear skills’ suite of programmes, that meet the needs of our local, regional and national organisations across both the defence and power generation (civil) nuclear sectors.

Working closely with Babcock International Group, City College delivers a bespoke Babcock Marine Submarinisation Bootcamp, designed exclusively for Babcock employees. An intensive ten-week programme equips participants with essential skills for submarine maintenance, including interpreting engineering drawings, pressure testing, installation and removal procedures, alignment principles, and advanced electrical systems such as fibre optics and shock mounts. The Skills Bootcamp combines hands-on training with industry-specific knowledge, ensuring employees are fully prepared for the demands of the sector.

We offer a wide range of Apprenticeships, developed in conjunction with employers to make sure everything we do is relevant and our students finish Apprenticeships ready for the workplace. Our links to the Royal Navy stretch back half a century, since when we have provided skilled personnel through tailored training, Apprenticeships, and specialist programmes that support the Navy’s operational and technical needs. The College has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating our commitment to supporting service personnel, veterans, cadets, and their families by providing fair treatment and ensuring access to education and training.

Our teams partner with employers to understand and address skills shortages and assist in workforce planning. Each curriculum is tailored to the needs of specific requirements within the realm of defence and are developed in partnership with business, meaning that the training we offer is aligned precisely to what’s required. This ensures our teams can be confident in delivering demand-led education for defence companies that is informed by market intelligence.

There is nothing more important than the safety and security of our nation, and Plymouth’s defence sector remains the beating heart of the local economy, particularly through Devonport Dockyard’s role in nuclear submarine maintenance.

This year, the Council and Homes England unveiled the Plymouth City Centre Vision, outlining a shared goal of delivering 10,000 new homes in the city centre and surrounding areas. The vision highlights the anticipated £4.4billion of Government investment in Devonport over the next decade, which is expected to drive demand for new housing. With Babcock set to recruit 5,500 new employees and an additional 2,000 construction jobs emerging at the Dockyard, the plan reinforces Plymouth’s strategic role in national defence and underscores the College’s vital contribution in developing the skilled workforce to meet this demand.

Meet Robert – Success Story

Robert, a Marine Systems Engineer at Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, has built an exciting career in the maritime industry following 16 years in the Royal Navy where he specialised in hydrography, forecasting, navigation, surveying, and autonomous underwater vehicles. After leaving the service, he worked as a Reservist and Freelance Data Processor before moving into his current role, where he prepares and maintains unmanned underwater vehicles and develops new procedures for the industry.

Keen to continue learning, Robert enrolled on the Foundation Degree in Marine Autonomous Vehicles at City College Plymouth – the only course of its kind in the UK. Studying part-time alongside his job, he explored areas such as mechatronics, software development, naval architecture, and object-oriented programming, all of which fed directly into his day-to-day work. Robert will soon be stepping into a new role as a Field Engineer for Teledyne Webb Research, working with a wide range of cutting-edge autonomous underwater vehicles.