- Royal Navy's newest attack submarine is commissioned by His
Majesty The King as Barrow receives Royal Port status.
- Government delivers on nuclear deterrent ‘triple lock' as
fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine enters production.
- Tens of thousands of defence nuclear jobs and apprenticeships
supported across the UK, making defence an engine for growth and
delivering on the government's Plan for Change.
A major milestone has been reached with tens of thousands of UK
jobs and apprenticeships being supported through submarine
building, as the Royal Navy's newest attack vessel is
commissioned.
His Majesty The King welcomed HMS Agamemnon into the Royal Navy,
in a ceremony at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness today [22
September], before conferring Royal status on the Port of Barrow.
In a separate ceremony led by the Defence Secretary, steel was
cut on the fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine, King
George VI, marking the start of its construction.
The work reinforces the Government's commitment to the
‘triple-lock' on the deterrent: building four new nuclear
submarines; maintaining our continuous at sea nuclear deterrent;
and delivering all future upgrades needed.
The defence nuclear sector now supports more than 13,500 jobs in
Barrow, growing by 1,000 personnel since July 2024 – a more than
7% increase - delivering on the government's Plan for Change.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“Submarine building is a vital UK industry, sustaining thousands
of jobs and apprenticeships up and down the country, all while
continuing to keep the country safe around the clock.
“Barrow is an outstanding example of security and growth working
hand-in-hand – adding a new attack submarine to the Royal Navy's
fleet, building the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines,
and simultaneously supporting thousands of skilled local jobs and
apprenticeships.”
Alongside their role supporting our nuclear deterrent, the
UK's six – of a future total of seven - Astute Class submarines
protect maritime task groups, support special forces and provide
global strategic intelligence to UK, NATO and coalition
operations.
The conferring of Royal status for the Port of Barrow highlights
the community's enduring role in safeguarding the nation as home
of nuclear submarine building in the UK and the dedication and
expertise of its skilled workforce.
Entering service from the early 2030s, the Dreadnought Class will
provide the next generation of the UK's nuclear deterrence patrol
submarines, ensuring the nation's security for decades to come.
They will be the most technically advanced submarines ever
operated by the Royal Navy.
These milestones deliver on the Strategic Defence Review's
recommendation of a modernised nuclear deterrence remaining the
cornerstone of UK defence and the Defence Industrial Strategy's
focus on strengthening Britain's defence industrial base.
As home of the UK's nuclear submarine building industry, Barrow
is also benefiting from major government investment, including a
£200 million Transformation Fund as part of the ‘Plan for
Barrow'. The Plan will support initiatives in areas such as
transport, education, housing and skills to enable and sustain
the workforce required in Barrow to support the Ministry of
Defence's major programmes.
A further £6 billion is being invested in the defence nuclear
sector over this Spending Review period, including in Barrow, to
help increase the submarine production rate to a new submarine
every 18 months in future years.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive BAE Systems,
said:
“This is a proud day for Barrow and everyone involved in the
wider UK submarine enterprise who are working collaboratively to
deliver the Dreadnought and Astute class submarines. We
take great pride in our role in this national endeavour and in
our contribution to safeguarding the UK's security.”
The UK's defence nuclear sector supports over 47,000 jobs across
the country, and this is expected to grow to 65,000 by 2030 as
government investment helps transform the UK's submarine
production capacity.
The government is working with industry and academia to create
22,000 apprenticeship and 9,000 graduate defence nuclear roles
over the next decade – providing sustainable, high-skilled and
well-paid employment and putting money in British people's
pockets. Currently, around 1,800 apprentices and 500 graduates
are training in Barrow-in Furness as part of BAE Systems'
Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge, boosting
opportunities for the people of Barrow.
The events follow the US State Visit to the UK, and the two
nations have a longstanding, close relationship on all nuclear
issues, which has endured over many decades.
