Minister for Defence Readiness Luke Pollard: Defence spending increase will benefit all of Northern Ireland
Our £50 million investment in Northern Ireland is a vote of confidence in the small businesses here in Belfast and across the nation playing such a crucial role in keeping us and our allies safe.
In a more dangerous world, it’s clear Northern Ireland’s defence industry is vital: air defence missiles produced by Thales in Belfast have shot down Putin’s drones and are used by our forces to protect our citizens and our partners in the Middle East. Thales is a big company, but more than 50 smaller firms in its supply chain across Northern Ireland contribute and benefit from its work.
There’s so much more potential. Our historic uplift in defence spending means there is an incredible opportunity for the huge number of world-leading small businesses here in Northern Ireland.
Our support through the new Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal will create hundreds of well-paid jobs, both in the defence industry and sectors across all of the nation. The advanced manufacturing and engineering know-how that goes into producing a missile can be used by a business to produce civilian products that benefit the whole economy.
To take just one example, a local company producing components for fighter jets also makes advanced polymers in hairbrushes. One third of the world’s airliner seats are made in Northern Ireland. There is huge potential we want to tap into and expand even further, making sure defence is an engine for growth that benefits everybody.
In Belfast this week, I met some of the fantastic and innovative start-ups working here. They’re excited, but described the challenges they face: overcoming hurdles when working with defence; difficulties hiring people with the right skills at the right time; issues accessing some of the information they need to when details can be classified.
These are exactly the barriers we’re breaking down. We’re shaping this deal directly with those it will benefit most.
We’re smoothing entry into the defence industry with targeted support for small businesses. We’re creating a secure hub to make collaboration easier and to access sensitive information crucial to their work.
And we’re investing in defence skills and education to expand the talent pool for businesses and create more opportunities for young people to forge a well-paid and meaningful career in defence.
Speaking with apprentices and workers this week, I’ve heard the pride they have in their work, knowing they are helping to defend against Russian and Iranian attacks on our citizens and our allies.
So my message is simple: if you’re an established defence business in Northern Ireland, a small start-up wanting to help protect the UK in a more dangerous world, or looking for an exciting and rewarding career, come and talk to us. Together we can make our country safer, protect our allies, and make defence an engine for growth in Northern Ireland.
Luke Pollard MP is Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry