The UK government has today announced a £50 million defence growth deal for Scotland aimed at strengthening skills, innovation and industrial capacity across key sectors.

The funding will support the development of regional defence infrastructure, including innovation hubs and training centres, as policymakers seek to address workforce shortages and expand the UK’s defence industrial base.

Under the deal, £5 million will be allocated to a Clyde Engineering and Innovation Centre, with a further £5 million directed to the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus in Rosyth. An additional £10 million has been earmarked for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, subject to matched funding from the Scottish government.

The investment is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises and improve supply chain resilience, particularly in areas such as maritime systems, advanced engineering and emerging technologies.

Scotland already accounts for more than £2 billion in annual UK Ministry of Defence spending and supports around 11,800 defence jobs, according to government data.

The deal forms part of a broader £250 million UK-wide Defence Growth Deals programme aimed at strengthening regional industrial capacity as defence spending rises.

The UK government estimates that up to 50,000 additional defence jobs could be required by the mid-2030s, underscoring the need to expand training pipelines and technical expertise.