Spring Budget reaction

Commenting on the Spring Statement, Stephanie Baxter, Head of Policy at the IET said:

 "We welcome the launch of UK Defence Innovation along with record investment in defence manufacturing to make the UK a Defence Industrial Superpower. The £400 million committed to the development and deployment of new technologies, including quantum and AI, has huge potential for the development of ground-breaking innovations in engineering and technology which can benefit the whole economy and wider society.

"However, we will not be able to become a secure, sustainable and resilient Defence Industrial Superpower without the highly skilled engineers and technologists who underpin the advanced manufacturing base. That is why it is critical that government also invests in the skills training and systems to ensure these new technologies are secure and resilient against vulnerabilities."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About the IET

• We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world.
• We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world. This breadth and depth means we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.
• We want to build the profile of engineering and technology to change outdated perceptions and tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
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Media enquiries to:

Rebecca Gillick
External Communications Manager
E: rgillick@t66039.com

Jack Tappin
Senior Communications Executive
E: JackTappin@t66039.com