Prime Minister visits Swindon to praise Swindon Drone Hub

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, visited STARK’s drone production facility in Swindon on Friday 5 June alongside Swindon North MP Will Stone.

During the visit the Prime Minister highlighted the increase in the Defence budget to 2.6% of GDP and the prospects this investment would bring to towns like Swindon.

Whilst on the visit the Prime Minister met with the first wave of STARK’s apprentices in Swindon, as well as an intern and recent graduate. The investment in the young people of Swindon and surrounding areas by companies like STARK highlights how the investments in defence can support young people into high skilled and long-term work. It forms part of the governments wider mission to spread opportunity across the country and keep our nation safe.

The Prime Minister said: “It is no exaggeration to say that we’re living in more dangerous and volatile times than at any in my life. Ukraine and Iran is having an impact back here in the United Kingdom, you can see it, the economic impact it’s had. The most obvious is energy prices, but it’s not their only impact.”

He went on to point to the steps the government are taking to address this threat, raising the Defence Investment Pan “That is a plan that says, here’s the money that goes with the capability, we bring the two together, and it is another step up. It is another increase in spending, but it is the right thing to do, to defence our country. We’ve been working on that Defence Investment Plan for some time, very closest with our armed forced. And that will now be published before the NATO summit, which is in just a few weeks’ time.”

Will Stone MP said: “I was incredibly proud to show Keir around Stark’s facility in Swindon and highlight the work they’re doing to support our allies in NATO and provide high skilled jobs for people in Swindon. My mission since being elected has been to turn Swindon in the Drone Hub of the UK and the Prime Minister’s visit today is yet another marker in the growing expertise in the town.

"As conflicts around the globe continue, the UK must adapt in order to protect both ourselves and our allies. The Prime Minister made it clear in his speech to STARK employees today that the UK will play a leading role in defending our allies and I am proud that Swindon will sit at the heart of our production capacity for autonomous systems.”

Mike Armstrong, STARK UK’s Managing Director commented on the PMs visit: “Over the last 12 months we have invested millions in the UK, recruited almost 100 people, and established a production base in Swindon that can scale rapidly to meet demand for affordable unmanned systems across air, land and sea.

“We are proud to be able to showcase our contribution to Britain's industrial deterrence, strengthening European security, and creating highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs in Swindon.”