{"id":106118,"date":"2026-08-18T17:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T17:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/106118\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T17:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T17:12:20","slug":"bae-systems-preys-upon-working-class-youth-in-the-name-of-charity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/106118\/","title":{"rendered":"BAE Systems preys upon working-class youth in the name of \u2018charity\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Since 2020, BAE Systems \u2013 the arms manufacturer and genocide accomplice \u2013 has increased its investment into \u201ceducation outreach\u201d year-on-year. The cumulative total now soars above \u00a31 billion<\/a>, with a predicted increase of \u00a3230 million by the end of this year.<\/p>\n

This funding includes taking on thousands of apprentices<\/a>; opening a third multi-million-pound academy; and launching several youth centres across the North of England \u2013 which have been dubbed \u201cYouth Zones\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The weapons manufacturer\u2019s goal is to open a \u201cMaker\u2019s Zone\u201d in each of these youth zones: a room focused on engineering skills. Here, children from the age of eight can receive access to industry-standard technology such as 3D printers, vacuum formers, laser cutters, and flight simulators.<\/p>\n

In Blackburn, BAE says their investment \u201ceducates young people on climate change issues and how they can take an active role in contributing to a greener planet\u201d.<\/p>\n

And a \u00a3500,000 donation to Portsmouth\u2019s youth services, explains BAE\u2019s managing director, is simply a commitment to local communities, offering young people a \u201csafe place to go\u201d.<\/p>\n

How heartwarming that these war profiteers\u2019 care so much for our kids\u2019 futures.<\/p>\n

Charity?<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, none of BAE\u2019s cuddly statements or charitable gestures contain even an ounce of honest intentions.<\/p>\n

On BAE\u2019s website,<\/a> one statement explains clearly how \u201cthe company\u2019s award-winning early careers schemes are vital to developing the talent pipeline needed to deliver critical national security\u201d (our emphasis).<\/p>\n

In a document submitted to the parliamentary Youth Unemployment Committee, BAE Systems states Britain has \u201can ageing workforce demographic\u201d and therefore \u201cutilising apprenticeships is\u2026 an excellent tool to bring new young people into the organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

As it happens, BAE workers at a number of sites underwent strike action last year, which resulted in a victory of a six percent pay increase and extra leave. And this was after the bosses attempted to stop the strike through a failed court injunction, which led to further walkouts. It\u2019s possible that BAE is keen to get more workers into the industry partly to reduce the bargaining power that the existing high-skilled workforce has.<\/p>\n

BAE doesn\u2019t hang about waiting until young people start thinking about their careers, either. These manipulative warhawks start early: they target children in primary schools, where BAE boldly promotes its weapons<\/a> in partnership with the RAF!<\/p>\n

A secretive GCHQ program is allowing UK\/US arms companies involved in human rights abuses overseas to enter dozens of UK schools and recruit children for \u201cwork placement opportunities\u201d. BAE Systems is offering careers advice to children aged 9-12. https:\/\/t.co\/DrQK1aFidx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) August 25, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n

Defence minister Luke Pollard has applauded BAE\u2019s \u201crecord-breaking numbers\u201d \u2013 cheering on the almost 7,000 graduates who now \u201cwill be at the forefront of building warships, fighter jets, and munitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you know? The arms industry is being given direct influence over university courses.<\/p>\n

Officials from BAE Systems, Leonardo and Thales sit on advisory committees that oversee the \u2018strategic direction\u2019 of academic departments.https:\/\/t.co\/vN5Deaz8fA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Plaster on a wound<\/p>\n

Since the 2008 crisis, successive Tory and Labour governments have cut funding for youth services by a disgraceful 76 percent<\/a> \u2013 that\u2019s \u00a31.3 billion, before factoring in inflation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, one million young people today are not in education, employment, or training<\/a> (NEET). This crisis is even worse in those places where decades of deindustrialisation have battered the prospect<\/a> of good engineering or research jobs.<\/p>\n

In this context, arms manufacturers like BAE have spied an opportunity to weasel their way in and play the philanthropist. In reality they are preying on young people, who are struggling to find jobs and opportunities.<\/p>\n

Burnham\u2019s government thinks that pumping money into \u2018defence\u2019 is a good solution to Britain\u2019s stagnating economy and unemployment crisis. They say their Typhoon fighter jet order for Britain\u2019s military is \u201canticipated to be worth \u00a34.6 billion to BAE\u2026 helping to sustain 20,000 jobs across the UK\u201d.<\/p>\n

Essentially, they tell us that it is a good thing that children are getting driven towards an industry run by and for war criminals, because it promotes \u2018good manufacturing jobs\u2019!<\/p>\n

But how much worse will the NEET crisis get when the capitalists and their governments continue to throw billions at bombs, drones, and planes rather than investing in socially useful production? This money is effectively poured down the drain.<\/p>\n

Last year BAE Systems\u2019 operating profit alone stood at \u00a32.9 billion \u2013 some nine percent higher<\/a> than in 2024, and more than twice the \u00a31.3 billion that has been cut from youth services by the government since 2008.<\/p>\n

That \u00a3230 million thrown at youth centres by BAE is therefore nothing more than a cheap plaster on a wound.<\/p>\n

These war profiteers must be expropriated \u2013 their factories retooled, and their research repurposed \u2013 so that we can really invest in the future of working-class youth.<\/p>\n

Apprenticeships for annihilation<\/p>\n

\u00c1ine Bethell and Ben Campbell, Bristol<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham is trying to kill two birds with one nuke.<\/p>\n

With the promise of \u00a38 billion<\/a> for the nuclear submarine programme \u2013 which he claims will produce 20,000 apprenticeships (although that is over the course of a decade!) \u2013 he thinks he can placate both the warhawks demanding remilitarisation at the top of the state, and sections of the working class that want decent jobs.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for him, Burnham\u2019s destruction will be mutually assured by both sides.<\/p>\n

Burnham outlines no change from Starmer in UK military policy. He praises nuclear arms, \u201creindustrialisation through defence\u201d & the US alliance.<\/p>\n

He says, after years of backing genocide: \u201cThis Labour government has proved once again that UK leadership can be a force for good in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ark5M6Eb0a<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) July 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

On his right flank, the Prime Minister may find that his nuclear gimmick is a costly diversion; one unlikely to satisfy his general staff. Rear Admiral Philip Mathias, for example, claims Britain is \u201cno longer capable<\/a>\u201d of running a nuclear submarine programme.<\/p>\n

The Trident missile programme has not had a successful launch<\/a> since 2012. And yet, it costs a fifth of the defence budget \u2013 with projections that it will reach a quarter.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the British military is in a dire state<\/a>. The naval fleet is aging and in disrepair. And for many military chiefs, trying to \u201cproject power\u201d with an expensive nuclear deterrent that does not work risks blowing up in Britain\u2019s face \u2013 should the ruling class be compelled to defend its interests in a real war.<\/p>\n

On his left flank, Burnham may find that his empty promises are no more satisfactory. Even the point of providing apprenticeships rather than jobs is enough to lift eyebrows.<\/p>\n

The young worker who becomes an apprentice is a doubly enticing prospect for the bosses of private defence enterprises who will be engaged in this scheme. Not only will they be able to pay a lower wage, but then get subsidised by the government for doing so.<\/p>\n

And when the apprentice graduates, what then will they get as reward for this super-exploitation?<\/p>\n

Nationally, no more than 65 percent<\/a> of apprentices actually get a job with the company they trained at when they qualify. Even then, Andy\u2019s plan for a measly 2,500 new apprenticeships per year barely covers the 150,000 fall in apprenticeships since 2016<\/a>. Yet Burnham talks of a \u201creindustrialised Britain\u201d for \u201cevery young person<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 NEW: The UK unemployment rate remained at 4.9% between March and May<\/p>\n

20.9% of Brits aged 16-64 are now economically inactive, meaning they aren\u2019t in or looking for work<\/p>\n

\u2014 Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) July 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Then still, you may think that some apprenticeships are better than nothing. But in reality, Burnham\u2019s plans are really a case of \u2018robbing Peter to pay Paul\u2019, only to rob Paul again at the other end.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Burnham\u2019s \u00a38 billion for nuclear barely scratches the surface of the \u00a3205 billion<\/a> needed to fully revamp the system \u2013 let alone other defence commitments. In other words, this is just the thin end of the wedge.<\/p>\n

And the more the Prime Minister seeks to increase \u2018defence\u2019 spending, the more he will exacerbate the debt crisis; fuel inflation; cut the welfare budget; and divert resources away from the productive sectors of the economy, to be pumped instead into expensive scrap metal.<\/p>\n

In other words, we will all be worse off in the long run under Burnham\u2019s militarism.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this perspective \u2013 and one of a class fight against Burnham \u2013 is absent among the leaders of the labour movement, who either speak in pacifist phrases, or subserviently bow down<\/a> before Burnham\u2019s bombs hoping they will provide more jobs.<\/p>\n

Our class desperately needs a leadership that is ready to go to war \u2013 and blow up the entire capitalist system with it.<\/p>\n

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