Directly supporting the building of the country’s sovereign capability
NMITE, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, today announces that it is the recipient of a new government award which will enable it to offer additional student places and build new facilities to support more young people become equipped with the skills needed for a career in the defence sector.
NMITE is one of only 24 institutions, selected from 112 applicants via a competition run by the Office for Students, which share in the £80 million grant with a combined target to offer over 2,500 new student places in the next five years so more young people can land key jobs in defence.
The funding is also intended to improve facilities for courses which are vital to national security including defence-focused engineering and computing and will be used to build brand new teaching facilities in Eign Gate, NMITE’s building located in Hereford’s city centre to support its capacity growth over the next decade. The development will include converting the ground and basement floors into a new autonomous robotics learning studio, an engineering studio, a drone testing area, a mechatronics lab, as well as quiet study areas and student social spaces.
NMITE launched its MEng in Autonomous Robotics degree in partnership with the British Army in December 2025 and will be welcoming its first students in September 2026. The degree was designed in response to the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and its Strategic Defence Review, which both highlighted the urgent need to develop new skills in priority areas, at a faster pace, while ensuring that defence and security investment delivers positive economic impact in left-behind regions.
James Newby, President and Chief Executive of NMITE, said:
"This investment is a strong endorsement of NMITE's new model of higher education. We designed and launched this degree at record pace in response to an urgent national skills priority, showing the agility and responsiveness that today's challenges demand. It will enable us to help strengthen the UK's sovereign capability, while also bringing new investment into Hereford through the transformation of an unused city centre building into a high-impact learning environment."
Jesse Norman, Chair of NMITE said:
"We are incredibly proud to be one of only 24 institutions selected by the government. This investment will help create even more life-changing opportunities for students in Herefordshire and across the UK, while strengthening the country’s future skills base – and it adds to NMITE’s growing reputation for high quality education leading to real jobs."
Commenting on the awards, Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said:
“A strong defence sector needs a strong skills pipeline. This investment will help thousands more people gain the qualifications needed for rewarding careers in defence, working to protect our national security and boost our economic growth. By expanding access to high-demand courses in the defence sector, we are creating new opportunities for learners across the country while helping employers access the skilled workforce they need. This is a clear example of education and industry working together to deliver growth, strengthen Britain’s defence capability and support the jobs of the future.”
Discover NMITE's Autonomous Robotics degree
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