Following the work of the Cluster on promoting the Maritime sector into the Defence Growth Deal (Scotland), we welcome today’s news that the deal is now under way, with funding for skills and two innovation projects. Our mission involves driving economic growth and the Deal will make an important contribution to that.
Today’s announcement details that the £50 million package which will includes investment in new engineering and innovation facilities, £10 million toward two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in the East and West of Scotland (subject to Scottish Government match funding), and targeted support for the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus in Rosyth and the Clyde Engineering & Innovation Centre near HMNB Clyde. This deal reinforces Scotland’s vital role in the UK’s defence landscape and strengthens opportunities for maritime businesses, SMEs and research partners across the Cluster. Full details on the news release can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scotland-set-for-skills-and-innovation-boost-as-50-million-defence-growth-deal-unveiled.
We had over twenty proposals which we were able to submit to the Ministry of Defence and Scotland Office, along with a covering paper which highlighted the key role Scotland plays in Naval defence. We anticipate that the next substantive update to wider partners and stakeholders will likely be post the Holyrood election. Momentum does, however, continue with Scottish Enterprise.