A new social impact report by BAE Systems Submarines has highlighted the growing educational and community outreach associated with the UK’s nuclear submarine construction programme in Barrow-in-Furness.
The document outlines the company’s engagement across Cumbria in 2024, including more than 14,000 people reached through education and skills initiatives, 64 local community projects supported, and the recruitment of over 900 early career starters.
Among the larger investments cited is a new £100,000 donation to Barrow’s Dock Museum. This matches an earlier contribution in 2020 and will further develop The Submariner’s Story exhibition, which aims to bring the realities of life aboard Royal Navy submarines to a wider audience.
Janet Garner, Future Workforce Director at BAE Systems Submarines, said, “We’re immensely proud that our business is based in Barrow and very conscious that we have a core responsibility to support the community here.”
The report also points to recent infrastructure projects intended to strengthen the region’s talent base and economic resilience. These include The Bridge, an outreach and career development hub on Portland Walk, which serves both shipyard and non-shipyard employers, and a new partnership with the University of Cumbria to establish the town’s first university campus. Scheduled to open in September 2025, the campus will offer degree courses in mechanical engineering and nursing, aiming to address long-standing local skills gaps.
Garner added, “There have been some huge developments such as opening The Bridge and continued progress towards the creation of a Submarines Centre for Experiential Learning in Barrow town centre. We’ve also seen a really significant and pleasing increase in the number of local institutions we are helping — particularly schools and colleges.”
While commissioned by BAE Systems, the report is the latest in a series of efforts to quantify the broader regional effects of defence industrial activity.
Without sub-manufacturing, Barrow would be much poorer due mainly to its remoteness. When I visited some years ago, it felt like stepping back a decade or so. From a purely practical point of view, by building a social framework of excellence, we will not only ensure our security but give a vital strength to this part of England.
Firstly if anyone is ever up there or nearby in the Lakes on a rainy day and need to an alternative to counting raindrops, I can honestly say Barrow is really worth a visit. The dock museum may not be big but it packs a hell of a lot in, then compare what you see in the museum with the DDH and listen to your jaw hitting the floor.
As for BAe investing and supporting the town and its population it’s an old fashioned company town and it’s the source of the majority of its prime resource, the future employees. So it’s a massive win win for both parties.
Now for the remoteness, it’s a 2 edged sword, Barrow is fairly insular and being a company town strangers stick out like a sore thumb so very good for security (same can be said for Sellafield and Eskmeals up the coast). The down side is that unless you are a high up that can fly into Walney it’s a sod to get to at the best of times and in the holiday season it’s “Bloody awful”. The A590 is the main rd for Barrow and just happens to go via South Windermere so it’s Tourist clogged during daytime for 2/3 of the year. Scheduling road delivery’s of some very large and important parts is a “challenge” when it has to done in the dark or winter (sorry rant over).
HMG if you ever read UKDJ, I KNOW IT’s UP NORTH AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE THAT IS but it needs a new road that goes further south along the coast to Barrow.
Nice Museum, I liked the history, pics and list of ships built there over the years. Oh and the fantastic Models. Went there and a few other places on a few trips to that part of the World.
“Two wheels are better than four”.
“Two wheels are better than four” only for those people who don’t mind dropping down to less than 2 legs, 2 arms and a fully functional central nervous system 🤪😜🤕
I resemble that remark !
Seriously though, two wheels are the best way to visit Cumbria and North Wales, I always head for the hills and mountains and glorious Pass’s. Doing the Hardknott and Wrynose Pass is a must for any biker, even us old ones.
I must drag my weary carcase up there again soon before we leave.
Yeah, but, you’ve never done them on a Vespa PX200 have you, old scooter boys just get more stupid.
Barra is a sho!tehole of the 1st degree, Abbey Hotel does nice socials and accommodation but for an interesting night out, go to the Barrow Island flats.
Roose is a commuter town with an hourly rail service and rabbit hutches to live in. Take the Coast Road to Ulverston past the Buddhist temple and relax in Ulverston.
Have ever tried going from Clitheroe to Bentham over the Forest of Bowland via the Lythe Fell Rod, its not hairy Scarey like Hardknott but it’s quiet and just stunningly rideable ! Or also not so busy Honister pass East to West from Borrow dale ?
Mate if it’s out of the M25 ring HMG see it as some sort of far flung imperial outpost that just helps supply bread and circuses to London.
That’s so true. Just like most Americans, they only think of the UK as London.
Personally I try to avoid it like the plague nowadays, much prefer the “quiet countryside” (F15’s aside).
You say quiet countryside, students up to Gummer’s How during week and watch NATO forces come in over Morecambe Bay and fly beneath you up Windermere OR, pick a spot near Grasmere for the same effect… bliss.
ABCR,
Perhaps a candidate project for the 1-N list of defence infrastructure investments? Dunno, 1.5% of GDP will ultimately be invested annually in support of that mission. New/modited, more efficient, road and/or rail transport network to supply the sole UK submarine manufacturer would seem to be an instance of low-hanging fruit? Minimal controversial, other than opposition by an occasional environmental activist? 🤔
…controversy… 🙄
What Rodders missed is the motorway and railway need to go over the Morecambe Bay to Lancaster.
Hi DB I didn’t miss it, I just look at what’s doable and that’s a Kings ransom and more importantly it would bugger up the Eco system of Morecambe bay and my favourite birdwatching spot at Leyton Moss 🤬
So just a new duel carriageway spurred off the Lindale Bypass, run it west north of Cartmell, a new bridge / causeway over the River Leven, Bypass Ulverston and duel the rest of the A590 into Barrow.
Yes it’s been a few years but I have stayed in Barrow and twice was enough, third time and subsequently Silverdale Hotel and get the “Chug a Lug” train from Arnside ! Funnily enough that’s why I took up Birdwatching !
As an aside I thought they were redeveloping the Barrow island Flats ?
They ran out of September for the Barrow Island flats…
Leven at Greenodd was the old Lakeside viaduct route, now a roundabout and sone miserable de-duelling, interesting route you suggest, I wonder if Lord Cavendish would be minded to sell his Estates?
Nearer to Barrow is the epic problem, the area around Barrow is a minefield… you won’t be blown up, rather like an engine +/- 100 years ago, you’ll disappear down a mine shaft.
Historical moment, bottom of the Lindale Hill junction with Grange over Sands and connection to A6, thence to M6 was built according to esteemed railway engineer G Stephenson a la Flat Moss with rails placed on bails of straw… the road floats.
Not a lot of people know that.
Hi DB, I live in Derbyshire so very well aware of the Duke of Devonshire and his families reach. But ultimately Peregrine will do what he is told to by HMG, right now the Aristocracy are slightly nervous about our present Government so good timing. He would get paid for it and if it’s deemed to be a project of National Security Infrastructure his hands are tied. As for the mineshafts it’s no different to when they built the M6 over Shap in the 60’s lots of holes to fill in.
Interesting little fact the best and most accurate record of historical mines isn’t owned by the former NCB or a bunch of geologists.
Nope it’s owned by Network Rail who just happened to acquire all the records held by all the Old Train / Canal companies some of the records go right back into the 17th Century. Which is one of the reasons Brunei’s famous GWR down to Cornwall runs partly right next to the sea (the bit inland was pretty well hollowed out). As for floating rds yes Stephenson used that technique but it was used well before then, General Wade used a variation when building the military rds in Scotland.
What about a base load of nuclear sub de-commissioning work?
There’s a queue of old subs waiting!
That’s what billions are being spent at Rosyth and Devonport for decommissioning. Barrow may build them but they never return there.
👍Thank you!
If the UK ever decided to look at SSKs doesn’t BMT or is it Babcock have some home-grown “Vidar” designs? Does everything”subs” have to be nuclear?
That bus left 30 years ago with the Upholders and as long as the RN wants Nuclear boats we will never go backwards to SSK (even with AIP), simply not up to the prime task which is defending the SSBN and hunting other SSNs.
RN 1SL wants 10 SSN(A) nothing else.
Always seems short sighted to me, the RN not having 6 AIP conventional boats to patrol our coastal waters – North Sea, Channel, Western Scotland coast. N boats aren’t the answer to everything
It’s BMT.
If the latest news reports are true that none of our hunter killer subs are operational and our SSBNs are on their last legs one has to wonder how well built these subs are? We seem to have a Navy that spends more time in dock than at sea.
Vanguard came onto strength in 1993 and you think 32 years kater she was poorly built?
Astutes are a different kettle with later builds being robbed, in build, to provide replacement spare parts for operational boats.
Also, boat 4 onwards are modified iirc.
DB the point I was trying to make was that we seem to cut corners and make things on a shoe string type 45 Destroyers perfect example they had massive problems from the start. We should also not be robbing subs under construction for parts. This country always puts defence spending at the bottom of its list unless forced to do otherwise.