RESEARCH has revealed the extent to which BAE Systems contributes to economy in Cumbria and the rest of the country.

Jobs, research and development and national supply chains as well as developing technologies critical for the defence of the nation are helping to drive increased productivity, a report has shown.

The company employs around 10,000 people in its submarines business, with the majority based at the shipyard in Barrow.

BAE is delivering the Astute and Dreadnought submarines for the Royal Navy, as well as early design work on a replacement for the Astute class.

The company spent over £80 million with more than 100 suppliers in Cumbria in 2020, supporting 1,380 jobs in the region’s supply chain.

Its more than 50 sites and wider supply chain support 143,000 jobs across the country and contributed more than £10 billion to UK GDP, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the economy.

The report was commissioned by BAE and produced by Oxford Economics. 

Charles Woodburn, the BAE chief executive, said: “Our sector not only supports our national defence and security, but also provides unparalleled economic value which drives the UK’s prosperity.

"The investment we make in highly skilled jobs, research and development and our extensive supply chain supports thousands of companies and tens of thousands of people and the communities in which they live.”

Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP, said: "In every region of the UK, defence is driving prosperity, protecting the economy, providing jobs and building skills.

"BAE Systems is a leading light in that progress, helping us level up the country by supporting tens of thousands of jobs as we build back better from Covid-19.

"Through the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, we are deepening the relationship between government, industry and academia to bolster British innovation."

Jo Lappin, the chief executive of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "Locally, the submarines business makes a significant contribution to both Barrow and Cumbria, more widely, providing active leadership on socio-economic issues in a range of settings from chairing the Barrow Town Board to leading economic recovery and growth through its engagement with the LEP.

"They have also directly supported businesses and local institutions to grow by providing expertise, advice and resource. They are grounded in place, providing long term quality employment that really does support levelling up."

Data published in the ‘BAE Systems’ contribution to the UK economy’ report, shows that in addition to the Company’s own 35,300 highly skilled UK employees, nearly 59,000 jobs are supported across the supply chain with more than 49,000 jobs supported through employee and supplier spending.