This year we have been working to create a nationally recognised cluster of innovation-focused companies in the defence and security sector. There are more than 80 companies locally already operating directly in this sector employing between 10,000-12,000 people, with many more employed directly or indirectly in the armed forces and in particular – through the RAF.

The LEP launched a Defence and Security Board last year to develop and grow this sector in Lincolnshire and we have also successfully launched the Greater Lincolnshire Defence and Security Network.  We have a realistic ambition to grow this to a scale that we can bid to the MOD and the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to become a recognised regional defence and security cluster for the MOD.

We have clusters across several areas with Lincoln, Waddington, Sleaford and Coningsby being the most notable. We also have supply chain businesses across Greater Lincolnshire, such as in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Grantham. We have more RAF personnel relocating to Lincolnshire over the next few years and are positioning the sector to ensure that Greater Lincolnshire is a highly attractive, first-choice destination for defence-related industries and service leavers.

Our ambition this year is to attend an internationally important exhibition, DSEI, attract new businesses here to Lincolnshire, formally establish a cluster with MOD, and further explore opportunities across the game changers – such as communality in technologies, agritech and defence.