Britain's defence industry received yet another boost this week
as 700 high-skilled jobs are set to be created following a £200
million investment from European defence company MBDA at its site
in Bolton.
The announcement follows new Security and Defence Partnership
signed at this week's EU-UK Summit which will open the door to
the EU's new weapons scheme, leading to significant opportunities
for the UK's world-leading defence industries, driving growth and
supporting 430,000 British jobs and livelihoods.
This is the latest win for the UK's leading defence and advanced
manufacturing sectors and is further proof the Government's Plan
for Change is working.
It also represents a major vote of confidence in the upcoming
modern Industrial Strategy, which will drive investment in the
UK's high-growth sectors by giving businesses the certainty they
need to commit to the UK.
Business Secretary will visit MBDA's Bolton
site today (22 May) to formally announce the investment, which
forms part of a wider £500 million commitment from the company to
expand its UK manufacturing and technologies.
Business Secretary said:
“This is great news for Bolton and another win for our
world-class defence sector, which will create hundreds of good,
well-paid jobs and ensure the UK continues to lead the way on the
cutting-edge technologies of the future.
“Our new Security and Defence Partnership will unlock access to
the EU's proposed new £150 billion defence fund for UK firms.
Coupled with the launch of our upcoming modern Industrial
Strategy, communities across the country will see how our Plan
for Change is working - delivering growth at home and strength
abroad.”
The investment from MBDA, a leading missile systems manufacturer,
will more than double its Bolton footprint by 2028 and grow its
apprenticeship and STEM outreach programme, which already
includes over 400 early-career professionals UK-wide.
It also supports MBDA's goal to deliver £10 billion of UK exports
by 2032, cementing the UK's position as a leader in the
manufacturing and export of complex weapons systems, and comes
after the Government announced a £6.5 billion complex weapons
partnership with MBDA in July 2024.
MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam
said:
“We are proud and excited to be building a world class
engineering and manufacturing campus in the north-west of
England, the centre of complex weapons manufacturing for the UK,
and our associated recruitment and training will extend our
already great workforce.
“MBDA is privileged to have a 10-year Complex Weapons portfolio
agreement with the UK Government. This gives us the confidence to
invest and better support the UK and its allies. It also helps
our supply chain and over 700 SMEs who work with MBDA in the UK.
When we expand, they expand with us.”
Megan, a manufacturing apprentice at MBDA's Bolton site,
said:
“It's great that our site is expanding and there will be more
early-careers opportunities for young people. Becoming an
apprentice was an obvious choice for me. Having the chance to
learn as part of my full-time job and achieve a recognised
qualification and career made it a very easy decision.
“Apprenticeships can be unique experience for each person. They
provide the chance to excel in industries people are passionate
about, and the experiences they get will shape their future.
Making the most out of my apprenticeship has led to reward and
recognition for my hard work, and I always encourage others to
study STEM subjects and do the same.”
UK Export Finance CEO Tim Reid said:
“Pioneering companies like MBDA UK investing in their people and
technologies for the long-term underscore why we are a world
leader in defence.
“Thanks to our multi-billion-pound direct lending uplift, we can
support even more defence firms to expand their production lines
and take on more international orders from allies – leading to
greater economic growth, stronger supply chains and local jobs
back here at home.”
The Government is backing the defence sector to deliver skilled
jobs and growth across the country as part of its Plan for Change
and is providing significant financial support to UK defence
companies through UK Export Finance (UKEF).
In March this year, the Chancellor announced a £2 billion
increase in UKEF's Direct Lending capacity for defence exports,
taking its overall lending capability to £10
billion.
The UK is one of the largest exporters of defence equipment in
the world, and in 2023 the UK won defence contracts worth £14.5
billion.
