On 7 March 2024, the IPT was delighted to arrange for a cross-party group of parliamentarians to visit BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire. The delegation included Sir Mark Hendrick MP, Peter Gibson MP, Yvonne Fovargue MP and Baroness Neville Jones.

BAE Systems is a global defence, aerospace and security company with a skilled workforce of over 93,000 people worldwide. Around 11,500 BAE jobs are in Lancashire, across the sites at Warton and Samlesbury. Combat air remains an essential component of the UK’s Defence output, and BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing site at Warton remains at the heart of BAE’s Air Business and the UK’s as a whole. Warton is where Typhoon combat aircraft continue to be developed, and the site will be central in a number of future projects including the development of the UK’s Future Combat Air System, Tempest.

The visit consisted of a wide-ranging tour of the Warton site, which offered the parliamentarians close insight into some of the key manufacturing processes behind iconic and pioneering defence exports. The visit featured contributions from staff across the facility and included updates on the current export potential for the Typhoon Aircraft. The parliamentarians also had the chance to meet several apprentices who work at the site, hearing about their unique apprenticeship journeys and how their programmes are providing them with fulfilment and skills for the future.

In addition to the facility tour, the visit included a series of detailed briefings from senior BAE executives which focused on the future of combat air and the role the company will play, BAE Systems’ sustainability agenda including the transition to Net Zero, BAE’s investment in the next generation through its Early Careers Strategy and the company’s close engagement and investment in the communities in which it operates across the UK and beyond.

We are grateful to BAE Systems for welcoming the parliamentarians to BAE Warton and the staff across the facility for giving up their time to meet us and offer their invaluable insights.