Image courtesy BAE Systems / Maritime UK

Approximately 18,000 people work at the cutting edge of delivery and maintenance of complex surface ships, submarines, combat systems and equipment at BAE Systems sites in England and Scotland will help celebrate Britain’s maritime industry by sharing exclusive videos, articles and details of exciting career opportunities during next week's Maritime UK event.

 
Maritime UK is the umbrella body for the UK's maritime sector and aims to champion engineering, shipping, ports and leisure marine industries by highlighting their contribution to the UK, with the sector estimated to support almost 1.1million jobs and contributing over £46 billion to the UK economy.
 
Glynn Phillips, Group Managing Director of the BAE Systems Maritime and Land UK Sector, which includes its Submarines, Naval Ships and Maritime Services businesses, said:
 
"These are really exciting times to be involved in a sector which contributes so much to the economy and we’re delighted to play a part in such an important week for all of the UK’s Maritime related businesses and their employees. We aim for Maritime Week to spark the imagination and help encourage more people to learn about careers within this fascinating and developing sector."
 
In Cumbria, BAE Systems Submarines is responsible for the design and build of the Royal Navy's submarines, including the Astute and Dreadnought classes. In April this year, the fourth of seven Astute class submarines, HMS Audacious, left the Barrow shipyard. The Dreadnought class will carry the UK's nuclear deterrent from the 2030s and construction of the first of four new submarines, HMS Dreadnought, continues to progress with the second, HMS Valiant, also underway.
 
In Scotland, BAE Systems Naval Ships is currently constructing the new Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy at its facilities on the River Clyde in Glasgow. The latest digital technologies have been used to take the ship from concept through to manufacture and all units of the first ship, HMS Glasgow, are now under construction, while the second ship, HMS Cardiff, is also progressing well.
 
The Type 26 programme follows on from the five River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, all of which are now in the water with the last of the class, HMS Spey, recently completing sea trials before being handed over to the Royal Navy later this year.
 
Meanwhile in the South of England, BAE Systems continue to innovate complex systems and technologies for combat and platform systems, deployed across the Royal Navy’s surface and sub-surface fleet. BAE Systems' wider technologies product ranges include sensors and effectors, providing critical advantage to UK and international defence forces.
 
Portsmouth Naval Base, which is managed by BAE Systems Maritime Services on behalf of the Royal Navy, has rarely been busier. Only last week the company played a key role in preparing the first iteration of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group to sail for Europe’s largest military exercise – NATO’s Joint Warrior 2020. Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, destroyers HMS Defender and Diamond plus frigate HMS Kent were all made ready to sail on schedule by Maritime Services teams, as part of the nationally important work the company undertakes in maintaining the Royal Navy’s surface fleet.