BAE Systems spends £70m with local suppliers

New research has calculated the benefit of BAE Systems to the regional economy, revealing that the organisation employs 10,000 local workers and spent £70m through local suppliers in 2020.

The figures were compiled by Oxford Economics, whose research also showed that BAE worked with 220 local suppliers, supporting almost 1,000 jobs throughout the supply chain.

BAE has long had a significant presence in the red rose county. Its air sector is based in Warton and Samlesbury, playing a key role in international programmes such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 as well as progressing the design of next generation combat air technologies. In Preston, BAE Systems’ Shared Services business provides central support activities for the wider UK organisation.

In recent years, the organisation has also invested in the £20m Academy for Skills and Knowledge. Working in collaboration with Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, CREATE Education and InnovateHer, BAE recently announced up to 7,500 young people in Lancashire will benefit from programmes designed to enhance their digital skills as part of a £300,000 investment.

Across the UK as a whole BAE Systems operates more than 50 sites, supporting 143,000 supply chain jobs and contributing more than £10nm to UK GDP, equivalent to half of one per cent of the domestic economy.

BAE Systems also continues to invest in research and development, self-funding more than £100m of research in the UK and being the ninth largest patent applicant in the UK. BAE also delivered more than £1.1bn of research activity on behalf of the UK government, helping the country to drive technological innovation in partnership with suppliers and leading UK universities.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems 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 & development and our extensive supply chain supports thousands of companies and tens of thousands of people and the communities in which they live.”

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