Wales set for defence jobs boost under new UK partnership
Wales’s economy is set for a major boost through a new defence programme backed by part of a £250 million UK-wide investment.
The Defence Growth Deal for Wales will create long-term partnerships between the UK and Welsh Governments, business and research institutions to support innovation and job creation in the defence sector.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced the initiative today, describing it as part of the government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy. He said: “The Defence Industrial Strategy will make defence an engine for growth in Wales, backing jobs, industry and 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 and jobs across Wales. 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 Wales 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.”
Latest figures show that almost 4,000 people in Wales are already employed due to Ministry of Defence industry spending.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “This investment in defence will bring a real boost for Wales’ economy and support highly skilled jobs for years to come – this is the defence dividend. Wales has an innovative and thriving defence sector with a presence in every part of the country. With UK Government working alongside Welsh Government and industry, this strategy will help ensure the sector goes from strength to strength.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said: “Wales excels across the defence sector, in areas including cyber security, opto-electronics, land systems, training and testing, so we are well placed to seize the opportunities that lie ahead in developing the defence industrial base here in the UK and in Europe.”
Wales already has strengths in unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous systems, with companies such as Tekever in Pembrokeshire and testing facilities like the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre playing a key role. Academic institutions including the Welsh Centre for Defence Autonomy are also contributing to defence research.
The Welsh Defence Growth Deal will be unveiled in the coming months. Areas of focus are expected to include skills, innovation, procurement, investment and partnerships.
The Ministry of Defence said the strategy would also address workforce needs with measures such as a Defence Skills Passport, new graduate and apprenticeship opportunities, and campaigns to raise the profile of careers in defence.
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