A new plan has been launched to highlight how the South West plays a key role in the UK’s defence and economic security.
The Regional Defence Prospectus by The Great South West outlines how major military sites, including Babcock, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Atlas Elektronik and National Drone Hub are helping to create jobs and strengthen Britain’s defences.
The plan, revealed ahead of the Government’s upcoming Defence Review, explains how local businesses and workers could benefit from new investment in manufacturing, technology, and exports.
The defence sector in the South West already supports more than 61,000 jobs and adds £2.8 billion to the economy.
The Prospectus outlines how the South West is poised to:
- Expand domestic manufacturing capacity, reducing reliance on international imports and strengthening the UK’s supply chain.
- Accelerate innovation in defence technology, supporting R&D in cybersecurity, AI, autonomous systems, and next-generation aerospace.
- Scale up skills and workforce development, ensuring the UK has the specialist talent needed to deliver national defence priorities.
- Unlock export opportunities, leveraging the region’s defence industry to strengthen the UK’s global presence.
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Neil Skelland, Director of Business Development at Atlas Elektronik and Chair of the Great South West Defence & Security Programme Board, said:
“The Defence Prospectus highlights the strength of the Great South West as the UK’s premier defence region. We are home to the expertise, innovation, skills, science and infrastructure to provide an engine for growth. We can spread prosperity, boost industrial resilience and deter adversaries by leveraging the defence opportunities in the Great South West.”
Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK, Headline Partner of the launch event, said:
“The publication of this Prospectus shines a light on the South West’s defence and security sector as an engine of economic prosperity, primed for further growth.
A base for primes including Leonardo, the Home of British Helicopters, a diverse range of SMEs such as WholeShip, and collaborative spaces like the Defence BattleLab and iAero, the South West has the specialist skills, expertise and infrastructure necessary to grow our economy while protecting our national security.”
Nick Ames, CEO of Supacat, Supporting Partner of the event, said:
“We are delighted to be the Supporting Partner for the Great South West’s event to launch the region’s first Defence Prospectus.
This is an important document that illustrates the existing defence assets and capabilities in the region, identifying where economic growth can be guaranteed provided there is adequate investment and recognition.
As an SME in the region we are proud to be part of that mix, contributing to the nation’s security and the region’s prosperity by ensuring that 85% of our materials are procured from within the region, and recruiting and training our staff from the local community.
Our international customer base also enormously enhances our ability to create growth in the region. We commend this document to the Members of Parliament and wider stakeholders, as a clear statement of intent and capability from the region.”
