LONDON, March 25 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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Over £280million in contractsawardedtomaintainand support3,000Navy,Armyanddefenceboats,protectingUK watersfor years to come.
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Contracts back British businesses, creating more than100 skilled jobsacross the UK, fromScotlandto Cornwall.
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Programme supports the reopening docks,showing howdefenceisan engine for growth.
British businesseshave beenbackedtoday, with100 skilled jobscreatedthroughnew contracts to support afleet of 3,000defenceboatswhich areessential to protecting the UK's waters.
The contracts,worth £283.5million,willmaintainandsupportsmaller vessels used bytheRoyal Navy,Army, Royal Fleet Auxiliary,andMOD Police,such assingle‑person watercraft, high‑speedcraft, trainingvessels, and the Royal Navy's P2000 small warships.
Awarded to Golden Arrow Marine, UK Docks, Griffon Marine Ltd, Babcock and Serco following a competitive procurement process,the contractswill run until 2033.
More than £250 million of the total value flows exclusively through UK-based businesses, making defence an engine for growth.
The programme will create apprenticeships,engineeringand manufacturing roles in coastal and riverside communities fromScotlandto Cornwall.Itwill directly enable the reopening of docksin Teessideand regeneration of key maritime sites. Activity will be centred on major naval bases at Portsmouth,Devonportand Clyde,
withadditionalwork in Gibraltar.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said:
We're backing British businesses, reopening docks and breathing new life into maritime industries that have been the backbone of our coastal towns for generations - proving once again that Defence is an engine for growth.
This is defence spending that works hard for the whole country. These contracts will keep ourcriticalboats ready and operational, while putting over 100 skilled jobs into communities-including apprenticeships for people just starting their careers.
Theawards are structuredto provide support for nine distinctrequirements covering capabilities from P2000 toArmy boats.Sixof these requirements will be covered bythree UK SMEs-Golden Arrow Marine, UKDocksand Griffon Marine Ltd-and twowill goto Babcock and one to Serco.
Through the Defence Industrial strategy, the Ministry of Defence committed to making defence an engine for growth - backing British businesses, creating skilledjobsand strengthening the industrial base that keeps our armed forces operational. These contracts are an example of that in action, ensuring that the investment needed tomaintainour Armed Forces' capability flows into British communities and British businesses.
These contracts are backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War - hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027 with £270 billion this Parliament.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
