Trade association ADS, and trade unions GMB and Prospect have joined forces to suggest a plan to turbocharge growth in the defence and aerospace sector.
The Government has already committed to the sector, putting it at the heart of its plans for security and the economy. This report sets out a blueprint for how to do that and hopes to inform the imminent Defence Industrial Strategy and Strategic Defence Review.
In the report, unions and industry warn that defence and aerospace are ‘disproportionately affected’ by skills shortages and that ‘this is an unsustainable situation in our increasingly uncertain world’.
Unions argue that defence investment can be a ‘win-win’ for security and the economy, and that the Government should commit to UK jobs by building more defence equipment in Britain.
Recommendation areas include:
- Fostering British Industry: Ensure secure supply chains, establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and incentivise co-investment with international partners to retain intellectual property and expertise.
- Delivering for the UK with International Partnerships: Expand skills-sharing initiatives, protect workers’ rights, and safeguard intellectual property.
- Exports and the Growth Mission: Provide tailored SME support, reduce regulatory burdens, and foster cross-government coherence.
- Procurement: Incentivise social value in MoD procurement, enhance government understanding of the sectors, and incorporate exportability early in procurement processes.
- Long-Term Investment: Commit to sustainable funding models to support critical skills and manufacturing.
- Skills for the Future: Develop localised skills mapping, reform the Apprenticeship Levy, promote STEM outreach, and lower entry barriers for apprenticeships.
Securing Our Future: cementing the place of people for generations to come at the heart of aerospace, defence, security and space prosperity
The Securing Our Future report is a culmination of several months of collaboration between ADS (the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors) and the nationwide unions GMB and Prospect around the development and implementation of a successful Industrial Strategy (IS), Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP said: “Without the UK defence industry we can’t put warships to sea, aircraft in the air, and satellites in space.”
“This report underlines the vital role they play in helping drive defence as an engine for UK economic growth – backing jobs, skills and growth in every nation and region.”
“Our upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy has been developed in partnership with industry, and we are fully focused on maximising MOD procurement activity for employees, businesses and our troops on the frontline.”
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, representing 1,500 businesses in aerospace, defence, security and space: “Businesses across our 1,500 member organisations – ranging from large primes down to the smaller and medium enterprises that make up the bedrock of our supply chain – are at the centre of communities throughout the UK. The strength of our industry has, at its heart, the skills of almost 430,000 people. It’s always good news to hear of significant investment in new and enhanced sites alike. Continued commitment to the UK from international businesses is of course reassuring, particularly when investments are targeted towards future engineering skills, economic resilience and stronger relationships with our allies.”
“We very much welcome the steps that Government has already taken to recognise the value of our sectors, including the additional funds already committed to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) despite the challenging fiscal environment. We stand ready to partner with Government, with each other, with our workers and their communities, and with other unions and businesses who support these principles and equally are deeply invested in creating the prosperity and security the UK needs now more than ever.”
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