Defence Technical Officer Engineer Entry Scheme (DTOEES)
DTOEES was set up to ensure that the Services could meet their need to recruit technical graduates to serve as officers in the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Civil Service. Successful candidates are accepted into Welbeck, the Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC) having signed an undertaking with their respective Service. On completion of their A levels at DSFC, students go on to read for an engineering, technical, business or logistics degree at one of the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) partner universities. Students are sponsored by their respective Services and receive technical bursaries which are conditional upon academic success and attendance at training at their support unit.
These provide a structured programme of development activities to enhance students’ technical and Service awareness as well as providing academic and pastoral mentorship. The priority for each unit is to ensure that students gain an appropriate technical degree, develop their personal and leadership skills and maintain their motivation towards a career as a technical officer in their respective Service. The 4 Services retain an important role as sponsors of individuals throughout the entire DTOEES pipeline.
Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC)
The DSFC is operated under a 30 year PFI contract, run by Minerva Education and Training Ltd (METL) at the purpose-built facilities at Woodhouse Eaves. Its first full year of operation was the 05/06 academic year. Student academic performance, character development, enthusiasm for a career in the Services and proper exercise of duty of care are all high priorities for the College. Parental contributions are required, but represent exceptional value; tuition is free and a sliding scale is used to establish contributions towards maintenance depending on residual parental income.
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
The four DTUS support units, Thunderer Squadron (Southampton), Trojan Squadron (Newcastle and Northumbria), Typhoon Squadron (Loughborough) and Taurus Sqn (Aston and Birmingham) have been established over the past 5 years. The support unit Commanding Officers, embedded within the engineering faculty or school of each university, hold visiting lecturer status and sit on the various university academic boards. They are therefore well placed to mentor, counsel and if necessary, represent their students. On completion of their degree, students move on to officer training at Brittania Royal Navy College Dartmouth, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell or the Civil Service Defence Engineering and Science Group.
