A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MOD and Amazon
Web Services (AWS) will see AWS supporting MOD’s Digital Skills
for Defence Programme for the next three years.
It will deliver cloud-based skills development and training to
thousands of personnel across UK defence, equipping the next
generation of future leaders in the British Armed Forces and
wider supply chain with the data and digital skills to defend the
UK from emerging threats.
The MoU sets out a number of initiatives designed to directly
push the MOD’s Digital Skills for Defence programme forward at
scale and pace. Key aspects of the collaboration will see the
provision of:
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Training resources across the defence enterprise and in
particular supporting the Digital
Foundry, the visionary hub formed within Defence Digital
that harnesses emerging technology to tackle some of the
country’s most pressing defence challenges.
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A tailored programme of attachments for senior leaders
responsible for driving the UK MOD’s digital transformation.
The agreement - the first of its kind globally - was announced at
the AWS re:Invent 2022 conference, with the work taking place as
part of a wider UK government programme with AWS to boost digital
skills.
Laurence Lee, Second Permanent Secretary at the MOD,
said:
It is crucial we keep Defence personnel at the forefront of
digital skills as we’re faced with emerging threats in an
ever-changing battlespace. The speed of digital change cannot be
underestimated, and the Digital Skills for Defence programme will
help us match global competitors.
This agreement with AWS exemplifies our focus on harnessing
cutting-edge ways of working within Defence, drawing on the
expertise of the public and private sectors, and we’re excited at
the new opportunities for skills development this presents.
Charles Forte, Chief Information Officer at the MOD,
said:
Today marks a key milestone in our delivery of our Digital Skills
for Defence programme and the development of digital skills
across UK Defence. Amazon’s agreement to build upon and scale up
our work within the Digital Skills for Defence programme is a
crucial priority that will help us realise digital transformation
across Defence.
It serves as an important symbol of how we must deepen our work
with the tech sector to realise our objectives. We are grateful
for this commitment and look forward to developing this
partnership with AWS and other companies and organisations across
the sector.
The MoU will enable deeper collaboration between AWS and Defence
Digital on skills development, outlining plans for equipping
defence leaders and military and civilian personnel with
game-changing technical skills to sustain military and business
advantage.
Chris Hayman, Director Public Sector UK & Ireland at
AWS, said:
We are proud to be the first company to sign an MoU of this
nature with the UK Ministry of Defence. We are fully committed to
supporting the Government’s skills agenda across the whole of the
public sector, and this agreement reflects our determination to
support the defence community in their development of a
world-leading skills environment.
To better help defence organisations with their digital
transformations, a clear understanding across Government and
amongst senior military leaders about the benefits of emerging
technology, such as cloud, to deliver critical missions is
needed.
We are excited to be working with MOD to help upskill senior
officials and military leaders in their understanding of cloud
and associated technologies, such as quantum technology and
artificial intelligence.
Digital Skills for Defence aims to deliver a critical digital
skills capability uplift, for Defence Leaders, Digital
Professionals and the whole Military and Civilian workforce. This
is fundamental in building and retaining operational and business
advantage, keeping up with and ahead of the competition. This
ambition goes beyond education but looks to transform our
learning culture and the way we work collaboratively across
Defence.
