Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker has announced an £84 million investment package for Plymouth aimed at creating nearly 1,000 jobs, expanding skills and training, and establishing the city as a national centre for maritime defence technology.
The package includes £50 million of government funding, with up to a further £34 million from industry and local partners. Coaker confirmed the funding during a visit to Plymouth, where he also met staff and students at Babcock and City College Plymouth.
He said:
The £84 million investment will establish Plymouth as a national leader in defence maritime autonomy, creating high-skilled jobs, backing businesses and providing new training opportunities for thousands of local people.
New National Centre for Marine Autonomy
A key part of the package is the creation of a National Centre for Marine Autonomy, expected to create around 120 jobs and attract more than 30 businesses working on advanced maritime technologies, including start-ups and scale-ups.
The wider programme is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs in total and support more than 400 UK businesses, including firms working in robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
500 people to be helped into work
The funding also includes a new £1.5 million Get Plymouth Working scheme, designed to help 500 people into jobs in defence, advanced manufacturing, engineering and construction.
The programme will focus particularly on veterans and young people aged 18 to 25. Around 750 people are expected to gain new technical qualifications, while more than 7,000 young people will benefit from STEM training.
Coaker visits Babcock and City College Plymouth
During his visit, Coaker toured Babcock International, City College Plymouth and HMNB Devonport, meeting people involved in developing the skills and technologies needed for the future of UK defence.
Babcock is one of Plymouth's largest employers and a founding member of Team Plymouth, the partnership bringing together government, industry, the Royal Navy, the council and education providers.
Babcock Nuclear chief executive Neal Misell said the deal showed what could be achieved when government, industry and education worked together, adding that linking people directly to industry demand was critical to creating lasting skills, jobs and growth.
£7bn already going into Devonport
The £84 million package comes on top of around £7 billion already being invested in HMNB Devonport as part of what the Government describes as the largest naval infrastructure programme since the end of the Cold War.
Ministry of Defence spending across the South West reached more than £6.6 billion in 2024-25, directly supporting 37,300 defence-industry jobs, with almost £400 million going to SMEs.
The latest investment will also support regeneration at Turnchapel waterfront and new industrial and commercial space across Plymouth.
For Coaker, the deal links national security with local economic growth - using defence investment to create skilled jobs, strengthen British businesses and build Plymouth's position as a leading centre for marine autonomy and advanced technology.
