Government intervenes on foreign takeover bids for UK defence firms Industrials Ministers have intervened in a flurry of foreign takeover attempts on British defence firms in the past year over concerns the bids posed a threat to national security, City AM can reveal. The government unit that scrutinises takeovers “called in” 24 proposed bids from foreign buyers between the first quarter of 2025 and the end [...]
Stockpiling helps manufacturing sector power through Iran war blows Industrials The manufacturing sector has powered through the turmoil brought by the Iran war as output grew at the fastest pace in 21 months, according to a business survey. S&P Global researchers said that output growth accelerated as firms rushed to stockpile goods ahead of further expected trade turmoil in the Middle East. The overall purchasing [...]
Starmer stumps up half the amount demanded by defence chiefs Politics Sir Keir Starmer has coughed up just half of the amount of funding military officials requested in the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan. During a speech led by defence secretary Dan Jarvis, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the outgoing Prime Minister, ministers said they made the “right choices” and defended plans to back investment on drones and [...]
Starmer to unveil hotly debated Defence Investment Plan in final act June 29, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer will unveil the highly-anticipated Defence Investment Plan in one of his final acts as Prime Minister. Starmer will publish full funding plans for the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), the government’s 10-year blueprint for armed forces, on Tuesday. He will say that more than £5bn over four years will be invested into drones, [...]
US glue maker swoops on AIM-listed manufacturer in £659m deal June 25, 2026 A US glue maker is set to hand London’s junior stock market another blow after snapping up medtech firm Advanced Medical Solutions. HB Fuller said on Thursday it would acquire the AIM-listed company in a deal that values it at £659m. The US manufacturer – which specialises in industrial adhesives and chemical products – offered [...]
Healey condemns Reeves: ‘Our adversaries do not follow timetables set by the Treasury’ June 16, 2026 John Healey has delivered a stinging criticism of Rachel Reeves’ handling of defence spending, warning that the UK’s enemies “do not follow timetables set by the Treasury”. In his resignation speech in parliament, the former defence secretary took aim at Sir Keir Starmer and Reeves for failing to fully fund the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), [...]
One in three defence firms ‘can’t find graduates to hire’ June 11, 2026 Nearly one in three defence firms can’t find graduates to hire despite a youth unemployment crisis, a new report has found, as universities have been urged to work more closely with businesses. Research by the University of Manchester and CBI Economics has suggested that skills shortages among young people has made it more difficult for [...]
UK manufacturing survives Iran war impact June 1, 2026 The UK’s manufacturing sector appeared to survive the immediate impact of the Iran war in May, new data has suggested, as researchers suggested that production rose to a four-year high. S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the sector hit 53.9 in May, well above the neutrality figure of 50 and higher than April’s recording [...]
Labour has not delivered on planning reform, manufacturers say May 26, 2026 UK manufacturers have hit out at the country’s archaic planning system, claiming the Labour government has not delivered on stated aims to back builders over blockers. A new report from industry body Make UK found that almost half of manufacturers (46 per cent) believe the current planning system is still hampering the UK’s economic potential, [...]
Exclusive: Ajax tank maker handed £12m from MoD despite trial pause May 7, 2026 The company behind the failed Ajax tank was paid more than £12m in the period trials were paused, City AM can reveal, laying bare the scale of dysfunction inside national defence procurement. General Dynamics continued to receive taxpayer cash in the period between late November and this week, the time where the government intervened to [...]