Mayors appoint business leaders to new Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council to 'champion our industrial and innovative strengths'
Defence industry leaders from across the Midlands have been appointed by the region's two mayors to support the sector’s growth as the government prepares to boost national security spending.
Some of the region’s biggest employers and several SMEs will sit on the new Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council - tasked with attracting new investment to create high-quality, well-paid jobs for local people by collectively championing and advocating for the Midlands defence and security industries, amplifying their strengths, capabilities and potential.
Mayors Richard Parker and Claire Ward will host the council members for their first meeting later this month, alongside the industry chair – Chris Spicer, managing director of Engineering and Systems Integration at Babcock International, which employs more than 300 people in Walsall.
Mr Spicer, who has more than 15 years of experience in the global defence industry, said: “I am delighted to accept the role of inaugural chair of the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council. Babcock has a long-standing relationship with the Midlands, where we have been an employer for more than 100 years in vehicle conversions. I am immensely proud of our highly skilled workforce in Walsall, who continue to deliver and develop vehicles such as our Civilian Armoured Vehicle and General Logistics Vehicle variants - capabilities that are vital to the UK’s national security.
“This collaborative venture, underpinned by the recently launched Defence and Security Blueprint for the Midlands, is excellent news for the region. It not only supports the Government’s wider Defence Industrial Strategy, but also reinforces Babcock’s ongoing commitment to creating employment opportunities and driving growth across the area.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “We’ve got 25,000 people working in defence and related sectors across the West Midlands alone, making us one of the UK’s biggest hubs. But I believe we’re only scratching the surface when it comes to maximising these economic opportunities at the same time as keeping our country and way of life safe.
“That’s why we’ve given Chris Spicer and the rest of this council the clear objective to champion our industrial and innovative strengths to make sure we’re the big winner from increased government spending.
“More jobs, higher wages, and stronger businesses is the promise I made in my Growth Plan. This is how we’re creating those real opportunities for local people and futureproofing our economy against times of uncertainty.”
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, added: “Businesses expect us to ensure the benefits of increased defence investment accrue to our major global businesses and SMEs alike, and this council will ensure that we work together to deliver that. It is this shared work that will translate into well-paid jobs for local people whilst opening up new opportunities for graduates and apprentices.”
The Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council has been set up as part of the Midlands Defence and Security Blueprint – a practical plan to secure the Midlands’ place at the heart of the UK’s defence effort which sets out the need to upskill workers and establish new career pathways for graduates and apprentices, alongside targeted support to help more SMEs win government contracts or break into defence-related supply chains.
Defence is already an important component of the Midlands economy with around 1,000 companies in defence or related sectors, employing 50,000 people, which is why both mayors have placed the sector at the centre of their growth plans.
The Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council will work in parallel with the three Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSCs) across the region, including a West Midlands RDSC to be launched later this year and already established RDSCs in the East Midlands and Lincolnshire.
The full list of council members:
Richard Parker, Mayor the West Midlands
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands – political co-chair
Chris Spicer, Babcock – industry co-chair
Chris Walker, QinetiQ
Emma Maltby, Rolls Royce
Ian de Souza, Ricardo
Julian Free CBE, Lincolnshire Regional Defence and Security Cluster
Lee Purslow, Unite the Union
Mark Dumville, GMV
Matthew Badhams, Safran
Nicola Melia, ESCO Maritime Solutions
Rachel Connor, GE Vernova
Roisin Hopkins, HORIBA MIRA
Rory Breen, Rheinmetall UK
Simon Ward, Accrofab
Stephen Kines, Goldilock
Tim Richmond, East Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster
West Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (representative to be confirmed)
