By Lee Bruce, Director of External Affairs, ADS Regions 

We live in an era of geopolitical uncertainty. Recent polling from ADS found that a significant majority of the public believe the UK must be prepared for an increasingly uncertain world and support efforts to keep the country safe. In this context, defence is often discussed through the lens of national security and military capability, but it also has wider implications for the UK’s economic resilience, industrial capacity and regional development. 

Defence is a major contributor to the UK economy, supporting nearly 190,000 skilled jobs and delivering advanced manufacturing and innovation across the country. Its supply chains extend far beyond traditional defence hubs, connecting businesses, research institutions and workers in communities across every region and nation of the UK. 

Since becoming Prime Minister, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP has spoken about the need to rebalance the economy through devolution and reindustrialisation. At the same time, the Strategic Defence Review highlighted the importance of a whole-of-society approach to national resilience, while the Defence Investment Plan set out priorities for future capability and investment. Taken together, these developments raise important questions about how regional and local leaders can contribute to strengthening both economic prosperity and national resilience. 

Empowering our devolved, regional and local governments will play a vital role in delivering industrial resilience.  That ‘place-based’ leadership will be critical as we continue to see local leaders shaping the areas we live in, whether through housing delivery, planning decisions, transport infrastructure, or their role in the local skills ecosystem.  Strong local leadership can attract inward investment and promote success stories nationally and internationally.   

Recent initiatives, including the Defence Growth Deals and regional industrial strategies such as the Midlands Defence and Security Compact, reflect a growing recognition that national objectives are often delivered locally. These frameworks can provide opportunities to align businesses, supply chains, universities and skills providers around shared priorities, helping translate national ambitions into practical action on the ground. 

The conversation should also focus on the people behind the sector. Defence and aerospace support a wide range of highly skilled roles, many of which offer long-term career prospects in engineering, manufacturing, digital technologies and research. As policymakers consider the future of industrial strategy, ensuring that people can access these opportunities, regardless of where they live or their background, will be essential. 

The challenge ahead is not simply about increasing investment. It is about ensuring that national and local strategies work together to strengthen capability, build resilience and create opportunities across the country. Done well, this approach can support economic growth, encourage innovation, develop a highly skilled workforce and contribute to the security of the UK in an increasingly complex world. 

As discussions continue among policymakers, industry leaders and regional authorities, there is a valuable opportunity to explore how defence, industrial strategy and local growth agendas can reinforce one another. That is a conversation worth having. 

By Lee Bruce, Director of External Affairs, ADS Regions