A historic milestone has been reached in the UK’s submarine programme, with His Majesty The King commissioning HMS Agamemnon into the Royal Navy at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. The ceremony also marked the conferral of Royal Port status on Barrow, underlining its role as the centre of the nation’s submarine building industry.
On the same day, Defence Secretary John Healey oversaw the steel cutting for King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine, which officially enters production. This milestone delivers on the government’s nuclear deterrent ‘triple lock’: commissioning four new nuclear-armed submarines, sustaining a continuous at-sea deterrent, and committing to all required future upgrades.
The defence nuclear sector continues to expand, with more than 13,500 jobs supported in Barrow alone, an increase of over 7% since mid-2024. Nationwide, the industry employs around 47,000 people, a figure expected to rise to 65,000 by 2030. Apprenticeship and graduate opportunities are a key part of this growth, with 22,000 apprenticeships and 9,000 graduate roles planned across the UK over the next decade. In Barrow, 1,800 apprentices and 500 graduates are already in training at BAE Systems’ Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge.
For suppliers, the expansion presents significant opportunities across the full spectrum of submarine construction, from advanced engineering and modular systems to materials, digital infrastructure and through-life support. Government investment is underpinning this demand, including a £200 million Transformation Fund for Barrow under the Plan for Change, targeted at transport, education, housing and skills to sustain the workforce. A further £6 billion is allocated to the defence nuclear sector in this Spending Review, with the long-term aim of increasing production to a new submarine every 18 months.
The Dreadnought Class, scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s, will be the most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy. Alongside the Astute Class fleet, these vessels will not only deliver the UK’s strategic deterrent but also support maritime task groups, intelligence operations and NATO commitments. The scale of delivery requires a vast national supply chain, integrating primes, SMEs and specialist providers across multiple regions.
For defence businesses, these developments signal sustained demand for innovation, industrial capacity and highly skilled labour. Engagement with prime contractors such as BAE Systems and Supply Chain Coordination Ltd will be central to accessing upcoming opportunities, as the UK positions Barrow and its submarine enterprise at the heart of NATO security for decades ahead.
If you would like to join our community and read more articles like this then please click here
Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
RELATED ARTICLES
December 5, 2025
Maritime - UK and Norway Sign Lunna House Agreement to Counter Undersea Threats
The United Kingdom and Norway have formalised a major new defence agreement to enhance security in the North Atlantic and
December 5, 2025
Land - MoD Invests £3.1 Million in Mobile Quantum Brain Scanner to Assess Blast Effects
The Ministry of Defence has allocated £3.1 million for the development of the world’s first mobile magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scanner,
