Landmark partnership will strengthen UK defence capability

A new strategic collaboration between Teesside University and the Ministry of Defence is to play a key role in strengthening the national defence capability by developing the next generation of asset management professionals.

The landmark partnership will deliver and develop professional asset management capabilities across the UK's defence sector.

The collaboration, which will see MOD personnel undertake the Asset Manager Level 4 Apprenticeship through Teesside University, marks a significant milestone in the University's growing national profile as a provider of strategically important higher education and professional development.

The partnership reflects the MOD's continued commitment to investing in its people as a cornerstone of national defence readiness and underscores Teesside University's position as a trusted academic institution capable of delivering education that directly strengthens the capabilities of the UK's armed forces and defence infrastructure.

The UK government’s Strategic Defence Review highlights the importance of modern, resilient, and efficiently managed defence assets which supports operational readiness and responsible public investment.

The MOD oversees a large portfolio that includes infrastructure, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and technology. Building specialist skills for managing these assets throughout their lifecycle is vital for UK defence.

The MOD’s partnership with Teesside University directly enhances workforce capability to support national security.

Emma Capone, Apprenticeship Policy Manager at the Ministry of Defence, said: 'Effective asset management underpins everything the MOD does.

'Our partnership with Teesside University is an investment in our people and the long-term capability of UK defence.'

Professor Paul Croney OBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Teesside University, added: 'This partnership with the Ministry of Defence is a proud and defining moment for Teesside University.

'It is a clear recognition of our academic excellence, our expertise in professional apprenticeship delivery, and our ability to work as a trusted partner on work of genuine national importance.

'Asset management sits at the heart of defence capability and, through this programme, our students will not only gain world-class professional qualifications but will make a tangible contribution to the safety and resilience of the United Kingdom.'

The Asset Manager Level 4 Apprenticeship is a rigorous, professionally accredited programme designed to equip MOD personnel with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to manage complex assets in demanding operational environments.

Accredited by the Institute of Asset Management (IAM), the globally recognised professional body for the discipline, the programme provides MOD apprentices with an internationally respected professional benchmark.

The programme spans five core modules:

• Introduction to Asset Management
• Asset Health and Lifecycle Enhancement
• Management and Planning
• Strategic Asset Management and Decision Making
• Work Based Project

Each module is directly applicable to the challenges of managing defence assets in a complex, regulated, and high-consequence environment.

The Work Based Project component requires apprentices to deliver a real, MOD-assigned project with a measurable business benefit, ensuring that learning translates directly into operational value.

Delivered through a flexible online model combining live interactive sessions, self-directed study, and dedicated coaching and mentoring support, the programme is designed to work around the demands of active defence roles.

Teesside University brings exceptional academic credibility and a proven track record in professional apprenticeship delivery to this partnership.

Named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2025 and rated Outstanding by Ofsted for its apprenticeship provision, the University has deep expertise in the disciplines that underpin modern asset management, including engineering, advanced manufacturing, and net zero infrastructure; areas of growing strategic significance as the MOD modernises and future-proofs its defence estate.

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