Alex Baker, Member of Parliament for Aldershot and Farnborough, has welcomed today’s announcement that the Ministry of Defence will extend its Long Term Partnering Agreement with QinetiQ by five years, in a deal worth £1.5 billion.
The agreement will see QinetiQ continue to provide vital test and evaluation services for the UK armed forces until 2033, ensuring frontline personnel have access to safe, reliable and cutting-edge equipment. The extension secures more than 1,200 highly skilled jobs at 16 sites across the UK – including many jobs in Farnborough – and supports a UK-wide supply chain of over 825 businesses, the majority of them small and medium-sized enterprises.
Commenting on the announcement, Alex Baker MP said: “This is fantastic news for Farnborough, fantastic news for our armed forces, and a real boost for Britain’s defence and security sector.
“QinetiQ’s world-class expertise is right here on our doorstep and this announcement represents a massive vote of confidence by the Labour government in the future of Aldershot and Farnborough.
“Extending this partnership means certainty for hundreds of local jobs, opportunities for apprentices and graduates, and a boost to our wider economy through the supply chain.
“Moments like this are why I am campaigning to secure the investment our defence sector needs – safeguarding our national security and using Aldershot and Farnborough’s historic strengths to bring new jobs, investment and opportunities to our community.”
Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ (pictured on the right above) said: “Through the LTPA, we play a vital role helping to protect and enhance the UK’s defence and security. The extension of our partnership with MOD enables us to continue investing to deliver the transformational change in test and evaluation that’s required to ensure our armed forces have operational advantage over disruptive technologies.”
As a member of the Defence Select Committee and a strong advocate for the local aerospace and defence economy, Alex has been vocal in championing Farnborough as a national hub for innovation, security and skills. She has also called for action to remove barriers to investment in UK defence SMEs and supply chains, including through new approaches to procurement and finance.
Today’s announcement aligns with Labour’s national mission to keep the UK safe and strong-backing our armed forces, investing in sovereign capability, and driving innovation in partnership with British industry.
