2 minute read - 23rd May 2025
MBDA announces £200m Bolton investment and 700 new jobs
Missile systems manufacturer MBDA is set to create 700 highly-skilled jobs as part of a £200m investment at its site in Bolton. The announcement follows the new Security and Defence Partnership signed at this week’s EU-UK Summit, which the government says will open the door to the EU’s new weapons scheme, leading to significant opportunities for the UK’s defence industries, driving growth and supporting 430,000 British jobs.
MBDA will more than double its Bolton footprint by 2028 and grow its apprenticeship and STEM outreach programme, which already includes over 400 early-career professionals UK-wide. The investment will also support MBDA’s goal to deliver £10bn of UK exports by 2032, cementing the UK’s position as a leader in the manufacturing and export of complex weapons systems. This follows the government’s announcement of a £6.5bn complex weapons partnership with MBDA in July 2024.
Never miss the latest manufacturing news by signing up to our newsletter here
Missile systems manufacturer MBDA is set to create 700 highly-skilled jobs as part of a £200m investment at its site in Bolton / Picture: MBDA
The government was keen to add that the announcement also represents a major vote of confidence in the upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, which it says will drive investment in the UK’s high-growth sectors by giving businesses the certainty they need to commit to the UK. MBDA’s investment forms part of a broader £500m commitment from the company to expand its UK manufacturing and technologies.
Chris Allam, managing director of MBDA UK, said: “We are proud and excited to be building a world-class engineering and manufacturing campus in the north-west of England, the centre of complex weapons manufacturing for the UK, and our associated recruitment and training will extend our already great workforce. MBDA is privileged to have a 10-year complex weapons portfolio agreement with the UK government. This gives us the confidence to invest and better support the UK and its allies. It also helps our supply chain and over 700 SMEs who work with MBDA in the UK. When we expand, they expand with us.”
Jonathan Reynolds, business secretary, added: “This is great news for Bolton and another win for our world-class defence sector, which will create hundreds of good, well-paid jobs and ensure the UK continues to lead the way on the cutting-edge technologies of the future. Our new Security and Defence Partnership will unlock access to the EU’s proposed new £150 billion defence fund for UK firms. Coupled with the launch of our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, communities across the country will see how our Plan for Change is working – delivering growth at home and strength abroad.”
