Cameron backs UK defence sector growth initiative

Prime Minister David Cameron has given his backing to a new joint government and industry vision for growth in the UK Defence sector.

Securing Prosperity — a strategic vision for the UK Defence Sector will be launched this morning (Monday). The new document identifies the sector’s core strengths and sets out how government and industry will work together to maximise the UK’s competitive advantage to boost British jobs, trade and growth.

This strategic vision for the Defence sector has been developed by the Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) — a forum set up by the Prime Minister in 2012 in which the government, the UK’s top Defence companies, the sector trade association and SMEs are working together for growth.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Britain’s defence industry is a national success story that we are right to take pride in. Across the country, British engineers, scientists, apprentices and manufacturers are working to ensure that our armed forces have the best equipment in the world.

“But as well as making an essential contribution to our national security, the industry is vital to economic growth too — with well over 100,000 people employed and a turnover of £22 billion a year.

“The Defence Growth Partnership sets us and industry a joint challenge to deliver a long-term strategic vision to maintain our position on the leader board — maximising opportunities for British business and further strengthening the economy.”

Key UK strengths that the Defence Growth Partnership will maximise include:

· air capabilities - which have yielded 82% of UK defence export success over the last ten years, and which have significant potential for growth integration that are at the heart of many military capabilities

· growing international business — developing more coordinated UK solutions, tailored to the needs of customers around the world

· technology and enterprise — establishing more effective ways of creating and exploiting the intellectual property of the future, such as autonomous systems

· skills — developing the next generation of apprentices, technicians, engineers and other professionals

· value chain competitiveness — improving the competitiveness of the UK’s defence value chain, providing differentiation in terms of capability, cost and market access

As well as supplying world class equipment, services and support to our armed forces and others around the world, the defence industry is a key sector of the UK economy. It is a vital driver of opportunity and employment all over the country, which industry estimates supports well over a hundred thousand highly skilled jobs in companies large and small throughout the supply chain.

The government is committed to creating the conditions that industry needs to continue to generate the innovation, well-paid jobs and high-value exports that are critical to long-term, balanced economic growth.

Read more