Defence Industrial Strategy launched

The defence secretary has launched a new Defence Industrial Strategy.

It is hoped the new strategy will provide jobs and boost the economy.

The new strategy will create highly skilled engineering positions and apprenticeships for young people across the country.

Defence Secretary John Healey launched the strategy on a visit to defence technology firm Rowden, in Bristol. The veteran-founded firm produces critical sensing and decision-making capabilities for the Armed Forces.

A £250 million fund for Defence Growth Deals will be launched, designed to improve collaboration, foster innovation and create jobs in areas with untapped potential.  

Initially, there will be five Defence Growth Deals created across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These deals will identify areas with high growth potential, and bring together industry, local and national government and academia to make sure that potential is realised.

Plymouth is home to the largest naval base in Western Europe and will see £4 billion of investment over a 10-year period. The city has just been designated as the national centre for marine autonomy to drive further innovation in the crucial maritime autonomous systems sector.

A Defence Growth Deal has been agreed for Wales, which is becoming a leader in UAV development and testing.

Defence secretary, John Healey MP said: "The Defence Industrial Strategy will make defence an engine for growth across the UK, backing British jobs, British industry and British innovators. 

"Defence Growth Deals offer a new partnership with UK Defence to build on industrial and innovation strengths that regions already hold. Together we aim to drive an increase in defence skills, SMEs and jobs across all four nations. 

"We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm and will put Britain at the leading edge of innovation."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "This is a plan for good jobs paying decent wages in Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Sheffield, Plymouth and beyond. 

"Through Defence Growth Deals we will unleash the power of local economies while securing our country - building an economy that works for working people, in every part of this country, just as our Plan for Change promised."