The UK government has increased defence spending to support jobs, skills and growth across the country.
Defence is not just about protecting the country, it’s about building its future. Increased investment creates new career paths in local areas, driving growth in towns like yours.
Catherine’s story
Catherine is an Engineer from CCP Gransden Advanced Composites. She grew up in Saintfield, which is a small town outside Belfast.
Catherine has seen the impact of defence spending first-hand:
There’s been a lot of investment… a lot of houses have been built, more facilities, community centres
She’s involved in exciting projects, including manufacturing engine parts for Rolls Royce’s arrow defence system. She emphasises the personal and community benefits, highlighting the pride she feels seeing her work come to life and the added free time she gains from working close to home, thanks to the local opportunities created by this spending.
Catherine explains:
“Working close to home is really important to me…The travel time is a fraction of what it would be in the big cities. It gives you so much more free time in the day.
“Being an engineer is really interesting because it changes every day. One day I could be on the shop floor watching the phone. The next day…I’m measuring parts.
“My favourite thing about the job is seeing your work on paper come to life, seeing it actually in the real world. I feel proud.”
3,300 Jobs Total MOD-Supported Direct Industry, Civilian and Military Jobs in Northern Ireland, 2023/24
Partnerships with devolved leaders
The UK government is working with the Northern Irish government to boost growth in defence-related industries. It will focus on removing barriers and capitalising on opportunities in key defence areas and promising business sectors.
This partnership respects existing devolution rules – defence policy stays a national government responsibility, whilst related areas like skills training remain under local control.
By combining national strategy with local expertise, this approach aims to create optimal conditions for the defence industry to succeed throughout the UK.
High-Growth-Potential Frontier Industry Clusters:
Recognised as a leading cyber security hub, augmented by Queen’s University Belfast’s Centre for Secure Information Technologies.
Home to a concentration of innovative defence firms, including Thales, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, and Harland and Wolff.