Great South West

Leonardo, the Home of British Helicopters, is not only a leader in aerospace innovation but also a powerhouse for the UK economy. With £6.8 billion in helicopter exports over the last decade and a £435 million investment in the UK in 2024, Leonardo is strengthening the UK’s defence capabilities, securing highly skilled jobs, and ensuring a resilient onshore supply chain. With world-class manufacturing, cutting-edge R&D, and a growing workforce, Leonardo is playing a critical role in shaping the future of UK aerospace. 📖 Read more about how Leonardo is driving national and international success from the South West: https://lnkd.in/eF9A9RAr #UKAerospace #DefenceInnovation #SouthWestBusiness #ExportGrowth Clive Higgins Gabriella Ardessi Craig Sharp Wayne Smith Nick Ames Neil Skelland ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH Babcock International Group Thales Marine AI Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd A & P FALMOUTH LIMITED Blue Abyss Global Loop Technology Ltd Slingshot Aerospace South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster

The Great South West Defence Prospectus has been launched, setting out the region’s critical role in national security, economic growth, and global defence innovation. With £2.8bn defence-related GVA and 61,000 highly skilled jobs, the South West is home to Europe’s largest naval base at Devonport, major primes like Babcock International Group, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, and cutting-edge defence technology in cyber, aerospace, and AI. As geopolitical instability continues to shape the global landscape, strengthening domestic defence supply chains, scaling up manufacturing capacity, and securing investment in innovation has never been more important. The South West is uniquely placed to deliver on these priorities, supporting the UK’s defence ambitions while driving economic growth. With the Government prioritising defence as a key sector in its Industrial Strategy, the region must be recognised as a critical partner in delivering national security and economic resilience. The landmark Prospectus was launched yesterday at a high-profile event at Westminster, sponsored by Leonardo UK and Supacat, with a fantastic line-up of speakers including Luke Pollard MP, Minister for the Armed Forces Tan Dhesi MP, Chair of the Defence Committee, Fred Thomas MP, Member of the Defence Committee, Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK, and Neil Skelland, Director at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK and Chair of the Great South West Defence Programme Board. 🔗 Download the Defence Prospectus: https://lnkd.in/e8Rbvajs Find out more: https://lnkd.in/egajXwXF #DefenceInnovation #NationalSecurity #UKDefence #EconomicGrowth Thales Marine AI Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd A & P FALMOUTH LIMITED Blue Abyss Global Loop Technology Ltd Slingshot Aerospace South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster

I was proud to open the Great South West’s Defence reception in Parliament today. The event was supported by MPs across all parties, from the South West and beyond. Our particular thanks to Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces, who championed the positive economic impact of the defence industry in the region. It was also great to catch up with some of the Leonardo apprentices from Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters, which is a leading example of engineering innovation and aerospace excellence in the South West 👍

Good to see a great turnout for the launch of the Great South West Defence Security Prospectus at the 3rd Westminster event in our series promoting the role the Great South West region has to play in delivering Food Security, Energy Security and Defence Security for the nation. Some great speeches from Luke Pollard Armed forces Minister Fred Thomas MP member of the Defence Select Committee Tan Dhesi Chair of the Defence Select Committee Helen Maguire BEM Lib Dem Defence Spokesperson Clive Higgins Chair & CEO Leonardo UK and Neil Skelland Chair of the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster. All of them speaking with passion about the strength and depth of the Defence Sector in our region and the importance of our region to the UK. Many thanks to our supporters Leonardo and Supacat Steve Race Gideon Amos OBE MP Vikki Slade Adam Dance Ian R. Nick Ames Ahmed Goga James Fairbairn Nick Ireland CEng David Woan Brendan Staniforth Stuart Brocklehurst Paul Coles Mark Bolton

We’re launching the South West’s first Defence Prospectus next week at Westminster at our event, ‘Leading the UK's Defence & Security – how the South West is driving growth that will help secure our future’. This prospectus highlights the region’s critical role in national security and economic growth, from advanced manufacturing and cyber security to defence innovation and infrastructure. We’re delighted to have Leonardo UK as a supporting partner for this important event. A leader in advanced defence technologies, including cyber security and aerospace, Leonardo UK is the Home of British Helicopters and a key player in the UK’s defence strategy. Their innovation, workforce, and investments in cutting-edge solutions keep them at the forefront of national and international defence capabilities. #Defence #Security #Innovation #NationalDefence Clive Higgins Gabriella Ardessi Craig Sharp Wayne Smith Neil Skelland ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK Babcock International Group Thales Defence Marine AI Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd A & P FALMOUTH LIMITED Blue Abyss Global Loop Technology Ltd Slingshot Aerospace South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster

🌟 The South West is a bedrock region for the UK defence industry! We are proud to have partnered with Babcock - Land sector to boost the local defence industry. CEO Nick Ames emphasises our role at the 'Delivering for UK Defence. With £130M contributed & 160+ professionals, we’re committed to innovation & supporting the British Army' #UKDefence #Supacat #Innovation #BackTheGreatSouthWest See you next week at the Great South West Defence Event at Westminster https://ow.ly/SYg250UPgxO

Our ‘Delivering the UK’s Defence Security’ conference at Westminster next week will highlight the region’s strategic importance to delivering national defence. Supacat is proud to be a Supporting Partner for this key event, which underscores the South West’s role as a hub for innovation and collaboration in defence. "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.” With over four decades of expertise in design engineering, Supacat is a leading force in British military vehicle engineering. As the design authority for the High Mobility Transporter (HMT), Supacat supports the British Army with a fleet of over 700 vehicles, while actively contributing to the UK’s defence priorities. The South West’s strategic position makes it a critical player in advancing national security, and Supacat is committed to this effort. #UKDefence #UKSecurity #Innovation Nick Ames Phil Applegarth Nicky Yeoman Chartered Marketer MSc DipM MCIM Kev Carpenter MSc Lizzie Jones Steve Austen

Position your organisation front-and-centre of our region’s nationally strategic defence sector at UKREiiF 2025. The Great South West is the UK’s defence powerhouse, with internationally important strengths in marine, photonics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and autonomous vehicles. This year, don’t miss the opportunity to champion our region’s defence companies and innovators. Join us at the Great South West Pavilion as an Event Partner, and unlock: - Access to decision-makers, business leaders, developers, and investors - The chance to collaborate with leading names in defence and infrastructure - A platform to position your brand as a champion of South West defence and innovation Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eeHzvSAP #BackTheGreatSouthWest #DefenceInnovation #SouthWestDefence #UKREiiF2025 Leonardo Gabriella Ardessi John Stevenson Babcock International Group Brendan Staniforth Gail Eastaugh UKREiiF

BAE Systems has been awarded a £285m contract by the Ministry of Defence, to support an eight-year programme ensuring the Navy is ready for evolving military challenges. RECEDE will deliver high levels of safety, security and availability of combat systems across 20 ships, alongside implementing BAE Systems’ CMS, and collaborative working with DE&S Maritime Combat Systems and Navy Command. Steve Carter, Naval Ships Combat Systems Director, BAE Systems, said: “RECODE represents a huge stride forward in our partnership with the Royal Navy and will help to realise warfare capability of the future. The global threat picture, advances in commercial technology and the immense volume of data available to crews means we need to become even more ambitious and far-reaching in our services and support. We are excited and privileged to secure this programme that will sit at the heart of the Navy’s ambition to be a protean force.” RECODE will support more than 200 highly skilled jobs across the Company’s sites in Filton, Dorchester, New Malden, Frimley and Portsmouth. Read more about the programme: https://lnkd.in/efykqrEx #UKdefence #UKNavy #SouthWest #Dorset Dorset Council UK Dorset LEP South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster Glyn Hughes Neil Skelland Cecilia Bufton UK Ministry of Defence

The Great South West is a national powerhouse for defence and security. Next week we launch the region’s first Defence Prospectus in Westminster, bringing together Government, military, and industry leaders to highlight the region’s critical role in delivering the UK’s defence security. With £6 billion in MOD commitments over the next decade, the South West is home to world-class assets, including Devonport Dockyard, Leonardo UK’s helicopter facility in Yeovil, and the National Drone Hub in Cornwall. And we are leading in defence innovation and cutting-edge technologies, from advanced manufacturing to autonomy and cybersecurity, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of global security. Sponsored by Leonardo UK and Supacat, this event will highlight opportunities for investment, collaboration, and future growth in one of the UK’s most strategic and economically important sectors. #BackTheGreatSouthWest #GreatInnovation #UKSecurity #UKDefence Nick Ames Neil Skelland ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK Babcock International Group Thales Defence Marine AI Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd A & P FALMOUTH LIMITED Blue Abyss Global Loop Technology Ltd Slingshot Aerospace South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster