£200m Missile Investment Ignites Job Boom: 700 Skilled Roles Announced at Bolton Defence Firm.

In a significant boost to the UK's defence sector, European missile manufacturer MBDA has announced a £200 million investment in its Bolton facility, set to create 700 high-skilled jobs. This expansion is part of MBDA's broader £500 million commitment to enhance its UK manufacturing capabilities and technologies. The investment aims to more than double the Bolton site's footprint by 2028, reinforcing the UK's position in advanced defence manufacturing. 

The announcement follows the recent EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership, which opens access for UK firms to the EU's proposed £150 billion defence fund. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds highlighted the significance of this development, stating that it will create hundreds of well-paid jobs and ensure the UK continues to lead in cutting-edge technologies. The investment also supports MBDA's goal to deliver £10 billion in UK exports by 2032, further cementing the country's role in the global defence industry. 

MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, emphasising the company's commitment to building a world-class engineering and manufacturing campus in the northwest of England. The investment will also bolster MBDA's apprenticeship and STEM outreach programs, which currently include over 400 early-career professionals across the UK. This move is expected to benefit over 700 SMEs in MBDA's supply chain, demonstrating the company's dedication to supporting the broader UK defence ecosystem.