Defence Deals Spark UK Engineering Boom

The recent landmark £18 billion in defence export deals – the £18 billion Typhoon jet order from Türkiye and the £10 billion frigate contract with Norway are monumental wins for the UK engineering sector and a major catalyst for recruitment.

Sustained Stability and High-Value Jobs

These contracts secure the long-term future of critical defence manufacturing, guaranteeing stability for decades.

The Typhoon Deal sustains 20,000 highly skilled British jobs and extends the production line well into the 2030s, crucially preserving vital “sovereign skills” in aerospace engineering. The Type 26 Deal adds 4,000 jobs, boosting naval architecture and shipbuilding expertise. Furthermore, the economic reach is immense, injecting billions into the extensive UK supply chain and creating thousands of roles in specialist SMEs across design, precision manufacturing, and systems integration.

Recruitment Surge: In-Demand Talent

The complexity of these platforms is driving an immediate and sustained demand for top-tier engineering talent. Key areas of focus will be:

• Aerospace & Mechanical Engineers: Essential for airframe, jet engine design, and stress analysis related to the Typhoon.
• Naval Architects & Maritime Engineers: Required for hull design, marine systems, and propulsion for the Type 26 frigates.
• Systems & Integration Engineers: Crucial for connecting complex components, including weapons, avionics, and defensive systems.
• Software & Electronics Engineers: Needed for developing cutting-edge technology like the ECRS Mk2 radar and combat system software.

Crucially, the long-term certainty facilitates massive investment in the future workforce, leading to a surge in apprenticeships and graduate programmes.

EMBS Engineering: Strategic Support for Advanced Manufacturing

EMBS Engineering is strategically placed to support the advanced manufacturing market during this period of unprecedented growth. We understand that simply filling vacancies is not enough; sustained success requires a holistic talent strategy.

Our comprehensive service offerings extend far beyond traditional recruitment expertise to include:

• Talent Strategy Development: We partner with firms to develop long-term talent strategies that align workforce planning with multi-year contract requirements.
• Employer Brand & EVP Improvement: We help organisations refine their Employer Value Proposition (EVP) to attract and engage top-tier engineers in a highly competitive market.
• Hiring Manager Education: We educate and train hiring managers and recruitment stakeholders on the new reality of interviewing and what considerations should be made to secure in-demand talent effectively.
• Local Partnerships: Our robust partnerships with local training providers mean we are perfectly positioned to support SMEs during this period of growth by connecting them with both experienced professionals and emerging local talent pipelines.

In terms of recruitment expertise, our core focus surrounds mechanically biased engineers situated predominantly across the Midlands, within various engineering disciplines ranging from shopfloor to boardroom level.

The £18 billion export boost positions British engineering at the global forefront, guaranteeing long-term growth and a wealth of high-value career opportunities. EMBS Engineering is ready to be the partner that ensures the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector is equipped with the right talent to deliver on this historic mandate.