South West launches first-ever regional defence prospectus to drive national security and growth

The Great South West Defence Prospectus highlights the region’s £2.8bn sector, 61,000-strong workforce, and key hubs like Devonport, driving UK security, manufacturing growth, and global export opportunities.

• Defence sector growth leads to first South West Regional Defence Prospectus ever
• South West top performing region – defence an engine of economic growth, critical to Government’s Industry Strategy
• £2.8bn GVA and growing; 61,000 jobs and array of employment opportunities
• Home to Europe’s largest naval base, world-leading aerospace companies, state-of-the-art defence innovation hub BattleLab
• Heartland for UK defence autonomy, test and evaluation, including Thales UK Centre of Autonomy
• Babcock, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Atlas Elektronik and National Drone Hub amongst key global players based in South West

The Great South West has unveiled the region’s first Defence Prospectus ahead of the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, revealing the critical role of the South West in delivering the UK’s national security and driving economic growth, as the UK’s defence powerhouse.

The region’s world-class defence sector, home to major military assets, advanced manufacturing, and cutting-edge R&D, is uniquely positioned to drive forward the Government’s Industrial Strategy ambitions, and make defence an engine of economic growth.

The South West is uniquely positioned to strengthen supply chains and drive forward the country’s resilience in an era of global uncertainty.

Across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, the region already contributes £2.8bn in defence-related GVA and supports over 61,000 highly skilled jobs.

The Prospectus outlines how the South West is poised to:

• Expand domestic manufacturing capacity, reducing reliance on international imports and strengthening the UK’s supply chain.
• Accelerate innovation in defence technology, supporting R&D in cybersecurity, AI, autonomous systems, and next-generation aerospace.
• Scale up skills and workforce development, ensuring the UK has the specialist talent needed to deliver national defence priorities.
• Unlock export opportunities, leveraging the region’s defence industry to strengthen the UK’s global presence.

With rising geopolitical tensions, from conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to increasing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, disruptions to global supply chain, and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, the UK’s defence capabilities are more critical than ever.

Neil Skelland, Director of Business Development at Atlas Elektronik and Chair of the Great South West Defence & Security Programme Board, said: “The Defence Prospectus highlights the strength of the Great South West as the UK’s premier defence region. We are home to the expertise, innovation, skills, science and infrastructure to provide an engine for growth.  We can spread prosperity, boost industrial resilience and deter adversaries by leveraging the defence opportunities in the Great South West.”

The region is home to Devonport, Europe’s largest naval base, as well as world-leading aerospace and cyber clusters, major advanced manufacturing hubs, and world-class defence primes and supply chain businesses.

Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK, Headline Partner of the launch event, said: “The publication of this Prospectus shines a light on the South West’s defence and security sector as an engine of economic prosperity, primed for further growth. A base for primes including Leonardo, the Home of British Helicopters, a diverse range of SMEs such as WholeShip, and collaborative spaces like the Defence BattleLab and iAero, the South West has the specialist skills, expertise and infrastructure necessary to grow our economy while protecting our national security.”

Nick Ames, CEO of Supacat, Supporting Partner of the event, said: "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.”

The launch of the Prospectus comes as the Government outlines its ambition to strengthen the UK’s defence sector as a key pillar of the national Industrial Strategy to power up economic growth.

Steve Race MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Great South West, said: “The Great South West is the UK’s most strategically important region for defence. This Prospectus sets out a bold vision for the region, and sends a clear message to Government and industry - ahead of the Strategic Defence Review, backing the South West is essential to strengthening national security, delivering economic growth, and securing the UK’s place as a global leader in defence innovation.”