West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he wants to see even more investment in the local defence sector
Gurdip Thandi Local Democracy Reporter, Gurdip Thandi and Local Democracy Reporter
15:16, 05 Nov 2025
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Plans for more investment to be pumped into the Black Country’s defence and advanced manufacturing sector have been backed.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker met with Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, to discuss how the region can play a bigger role in delivering the UK’s security ambitions and create skilled jobs.
In Parliament, earlier this week, Defence Secretary John Healey said the Ministry of Defence had invested £1.7 billion directly into the West Midlands in the past year – the highest level in a decade.
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He added the region has “huge potential for the future of defence engineering and invention.
And Tipton and Wednesbury MP Antonia Bance highlighted opportunities available locally, such as Babcock Internaitonal’s Walsall site, which manufactures and converts armoured vehicles.
Mr Parker said: “The West Midlands has been the backbone of British industry for generations – and that includes our contribution to defence.
“From small firms making specialist components to global companies like Babcock, BAE and Safran (Collins Aerospace), our region has the skills, capacity and drive to lead in this sector.
“I want to see more of that investment land here in the Black Country – creating good jobs, supporting apprenticeships and helping smaller firms win defence contracts.
“We’ve been working really closely with firms like Babcock recently in the hope that we can push for quicker growth and create even more jobs and opportunities.
“We’ve got some big plans alongside our colleagues in the East Midlands to really turbocharge the sector.”
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Antonia Bance MP, added: “Hardworking people in the Black Country built the engines, machines and vehicles that powered Britain – and we can do it again for the next generation of defence and engineering.
“This is about putting local industry at the heart of national security – with jobs, skills and pride in what we make here.
“With great companies investing locally and MPs and the Mayor driving this agenda, we’ve got a real chance to put the Black Country back where it belongs – at the centre of British industry.”
Chris Spicer, Managing Director for Engineering & Systems Integration, Babcock, said: “The defence sector is an engine for economic growth, and we welcome the UK Government’s increased investment in the West Midlands.
“Babcock has a significant footprint in this region, with plans to grow further, including with the production of our General Logistics Vehicle which
we have developed in collaboration with Toyota as our proposed replacement for the British Army’s existing Land Rover fleet.
“These programmes drive real economic benefits to local communities and create highly skilled jobs, including apprenticeships and retraining opportunities such as the Sector-based Work Academy Programme, helping people in long-term unemployment back into rewarding roles.”
