The Ministry of Defence’s Unity contract with Rolls-Royce is expected to create at least 200 new jobs in Cardiff and Glasgow.
The eight-year agreement, valued at around £9 billion, consolidates research, design, manufacturing, and in-service support for the nuclear reactors powering the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.
Although the overall contract details were previously reported, the specific job figures were recently reiterated during a Written Question to the Ministry of Defence on Monday, 3 February 2025.
Responding to a query from Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party – Angus and Perthshire Glens) about the employment impact in these cities, Minister of State Maria Eagle stated: “Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd estimate the Unity contract will create at least 200 new jobs in Glasgow and Cardiff providing the company with longer-term contractual security to plan and develop their existing and future workforce.”
This reconfirmation highlights the contract’s local economic significance for both regions. Rolls-Royce and the Ministry of Defence have indicated that Unity represents a collaborative undertaking, designed to streamline and advance the continuous at-sea deterrent programme.
By merging existing and future submarine-related work into a single portfolio, the contract aims to maintain a steady pipeline of high-skilled roles—now reaffirmed to include at least 200 positions in Cardiff and Glasgow.
