North Durham Labour MP Luke Akehurst has backed Lockheed Martin’s bid for the UK’s next-generation military communications satellite contract, highlighting the potential for hundreds of skilled jobs in the North East.
Akehurst said the proposal included plans for a manufacturing facility in County Durham that could create around 400 skilled roles, with further employment generated through the regional supply chain.
Space and defence in the North East
He argued that the investment could help establish the North East as an important centre for Britain’s growing space and defence industries while building on the region’s industrial heritage.
Lockheed Martin has already invested in capabilities in the region, including work connected with the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre at Northumbria University.
Akehurst said the proposal offered an opportunity to combine national security with regional economic growth and high-value manufacturing employment.
