UK Government Moves to Boost Scotland’s Role in Defence Industry

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The UK government has brought together senior defence officials and Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a bid to strengthen Scotland’s role in the nation’s defence sector.

At a roundtable in Edinburgh on 7 August, hosted by Defence Minister Lord Coaker at Queen Elizabeth House, representatives from eight Scottish firms discussed ways to expand industrial collaboration and tap into increased defence spending over the next three years.

The meeting came a day after Lord Coaker attended the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, underlining Westminster’s commitment to the Scottish defence industry. The government has pledged an extra £2.5 billion in SME defence spending by 2028, taking the total to £7.5 billion.

Currently, the Ministry of Defence spends more than £2 billion a year with Scottish suppliers, supporting almost 12,000 jobs. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described this as delivering a “huge defence dividend for Scotland” and said efforts would continue through the Brand Scotland campaign, which promotes Scottish innovation in global markets.

The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy and ongoing upgrades to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde are expected to open further opportunities for Scottish SMEs to play a role in major infrastructure and advanced military projects.

Companies present at the roundtable included ADS Scotland, Gibson Robotics, Rhea Space Activity UK, ThinkTank Maths, Quickblock, MSB, JD Wilkie, and MacTaggart Scott, highlighting the breadth of expertise from robotics to maritime engineering within Scotland’s defence sector.

The government’s approach reflects a broader strategy to use defence procurement not only to bolster military capability but also to generate economic growth and ensure regional resilience.