BAE Systems Opens New £25 Million Artillery Factory 

As BAE Systems opens its new £25 million artillery factory, EMBS’s Managing Director James Hall, says it’s great news for everyone in manufacturing. 

The news that BAE Systems has opened its new £25 million artillery factory is great news for the region’s manufacturing and engineering sector.

The new factory restores UK gun barrel manufacturing. It also brings a welcome boost to our defence capabilities. Crucially, it also creates new job opportunities.

New Jobs

For EMBS, as a specialist manufacturing and engineering recruitment consultancy, the introduction of more jobs is always excellent news to share. 

This state-of-the-art 94,000 sq ft facility is set to be operational by the end of the year. It will make Sheffield the heart of UK howitzer production. It will also deliver robust economic growth and skilled employment.

The new factory will generate 200 new high-skilled jobs, a fantastic development for the local workforce. Beyond that, it will support over 60 businesses across the wider UK supply chain, creating a ripple effect of positive economic impact. 

John Borton, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business, emphasised this point, stating, “Our significant investment adds to Sheffield’s rich manufacturing history and reputation as an industrial powerhouse and will develop a highly skilled workforce in the local area, while also forming an important part of the UK’s critical defence infrastructure.” 

He also highlighted the commitment to delivering sovereign artillery capabilities, a key part of the UK Government’s strategy to revitalise and sustain vital UK artillery capacity.

Manufacturing

Once operational, the site will initially focus on manufacturing the M777 lightweight towed howitzer, with plans to expand production lines and develop a range of world-class combat systems. This long-term vision ensures sustained demand for skilled professionals in the region.

Visitors, including apprentices who will be among the first to work on the new production lines, recently toured the facility, getting a firsthand look at the cutting-edge operations. This focus on apprenticeships is particularly encouraging, as it demonstrates a commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineering talent.

BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business is the nation’s sole design house for artillery, encompassing the development, manufacture, and support of artillery systems and naval guns. Their M777 lightweight artillery is globally recognised as the only combat-proven lightweight howitzer. This expertise, now bolstered in Sheffield, is critical for national security and provides a robust foundation for continued innovation.

This investment in Sheffield follows other significant infrastructure projects by BAE Systems across the UK, including a £300 million transformation of their shipbuilding facilities in Glasgow, a £200 million expansion of their munitions facilities and a £220 million investment in a new advanced technology factory in Rochester. These collective investments highlight BAE Systems’ commitment to UK manufacturing and its workforce.

Specialist Support

Are you looking to be a part of this exciting growth in the manufacturing and engineering sector? Or need our support to help you find candidates? Contact me directly for specialist support.