Prime Minister Visits Barrow as £8.4bn Submarine Investment Announced
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has visited Barrow following the announcement of an £8.4 billion investment in the UK’s Dreadnought nuclear submarine programme.
The visit took place on Thursday, July 30, as the Government confirmed that £5.9 billion of the funding would go to BAE Systems. The remaining £2.5 billion will support Rolls-Royce Submarines and other businesses within the wider defence supply chain.
The investment will fund the next major stage of work on four Dreadnought Class submarines being built in Barrow.
Thousands of Jobs Supported
The UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise currently supports around 47,000 jobs and more than 6,000 companies nationwide.
This includes approximately 13,500 jobs in Barrow, making the town one of the most important centres within the UK’s defence industry.
The workforce is expected to grow to around 65,000 by 2030. The Government also says its investment will support 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035.
Around 1,800 additional roles have been created in Barrow since the current Government came to power.
During his visit, the Prime Minister said major public projects should create lasting opportunities for the communities where the work takes place.
Mr Burnham said: “The submarines produced in Barrow will protect Britain for decades to come, and the 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships will change lives both in this town and in dozens of places like it.”
He added that young people should have a clear route into skilled employment through the apprenticeships being funded.
New Apprenticeship Scheme Announced
A new scheme was also unveiled during the Prime Minister’s visit.
It will help small and medium-sized companies in the North West defence supply chain recruit and train 30 apprentices over the next three years.
The programme will be based on the apprenticeship model already used by BAE Systems. It is designed to help young people who may have missed out on their first-choice apprenticeship access another route into the industry.
The Government has indicated that similar schemes could be introduced in other areas where major public contracts support local businesses.
What Will the £8.4bn Fund?
The funding will begin Delivery Phase 4 of the Dreadnought programme.
During this phase:
- HMS Dreadnought will complete sea trials ahead of entering Royal Navy service in the early 2030s
- HMS Valiant will progress towards its own sea trials
- The third and fourth submarines will reach further construction milestones
- Work will continue across BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and the wider UK supply chain
All four submarines have been named Dreadnought, Valiant, Warspite and King George VI.
Each vessel will be around 153 metres long. The submarines are being built to replace the Royal Navy’s existing Vanguard Class and maintain the UK’s continuous nuclear deterrent.
The official announcement also stated that productivity at BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard had increased by 40% during the past three years.
Government Highlights Barrow’s National Role
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting joined the Prime Minister during the visit.
He said the investment would support thousands of skilled jobs while combining Barrow’s shipbuilding heritage with modern technology.
John Barradell OBE, interim chief executive of Cumbria Combined Authority, described the funding as a strong vote of confidence in Barrow, BAE Systems and the town’s skilled workforce.
He said the work taking place in Barrow was important to both the local economy and the UK’s security.
The combined authority now wants to ensure Cumbria has the skills, transport links and wider infrastructure needed to support the expected growth.
The full details of the £8.4 billion Dreadnought investment are available on the Government website. BAE Systems also provides further information about the Dreadnought submarine programme.
