Defence

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Opportunities / Challenges to address | Identified courses of action | Successes / Results to date

A bedrock sector anchored by HMNB & Dockyard Devonport. Beyond the naval base and dockyard, Plymouth is home to world-leading innovation in both key defence primes such as Babcock, Thales, and UTC Aerospace in addition to globally recognised SMEs such as MSubs, Artemis Optical and Chess Dynamics.

11,548

FTE jobs

(11.5% of PLY employment)

£59,300

GVA per FTE

Productivity 20%

above Plymouth average and 6% above GB average

GVA output of

£685m

(13% of Plymouth GVA)

Anchor 1

Opportunities/Challenges to address

Lack of innovation
Lack of collaboration
Raising the profile of defence in Plymouth, nationally and internationally
Benefits of upcoming capital investment need to be shared locally

Identified courses of action

Anchor 2

Explore the development of a Plymouth defence cluster.

Outcome: Generate greater collaboration and innovation amongst Plymouth defence businesses. Professional facilitated workshop planned to harness sector capability and interest.

Create greater online presence for the local defence sector.

Outcome: Raise the profile of defence in Plymouth to government and businesses seeking to invest.

Work with DIT on Marine Autonomy High Value Proposition.

Outcome: Increase FDI and Inward Investment.

Arrange meeting with primary contractor for Dockyard capital investment.

Outcome: Industry Briefing session planned for 14 Dec – further info will be posted here as details are confirmed.

Welding college at City College Plymouth.

Outcome: Funding approved from SW Institute of Technology – now engaging with specification and design to ensure local skill gaps are addressed.

Supply secondment for DASA SW Regional Defence Cluster.

Outcome: Raise the profile of the region’s capabilities in defence, encourage greater regional collaborations and support the sector in accessing public funding.

Hold a Devonport Task Group and present at Defence Select Committee.

Outcome: Raise the profile of the city and address specific issues with MPs.

Successes/Results to date

Anchor 3

BABCOCK

Babcock have agreed to engage a facilitator at their expense. The facilitator is in the process of setting up the first meeting and has received positive responses from the majority of potential attendees.