Skilled jobs coming to Leamington at new NMS UK production facility

“Warwickshire, Coventry and the wider West Midlands remains a major centre for vehicle design, testing, development and manufacture."

Specialist defence manufacturing firm NMS UK has chosen Tachbrook Park, Leamington Spa as the home of its new production facility.

The announcement was made during the biennial defence industry exhibition, DVD2024 on 18-19 September.

At its new 7.9-acre site, NMS UK will focus on the production of protected patrol vehicles, in line with UK MOD requirements and for export to key international markets. To support this strategy, the business is set to create up to 150 skilled roles at the site across a range of areas including engineering, factory management, training, simulation and aftersales. The facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

NMS UK’s new manufacturing hub will help to support the resilience of the UK defence industry’s supply chain for protected patrol vehicles, ensuring that valuable intellectual property is retained in the UK.

The West Midlands is home to the largest manufacturing cluster of any UK city region, with its 300,000-strong manufacturing workforce accounting for 11.2% of all local employment. This is well above the national average of 7.6%. Locally, over 50,000 are employed directly in the design, engineering, test and manufacture of vehicles in the Coventry & Warwickshire area.

Invest Coventry & Warwickshire has been working to support NMS UK by shortlisting suitable sites and will be working with the company through Warwickshire Skills Hub and Coventry Jobs Shop to help with recruitment and upskilling.

David Zevulun, UK Country Director at NMS UK, said: “Offering businesses world-class R&D assets, a diverse supply chain and access to funding on their doorstep, we didn’t have to think twice about choosing the West Midlands for our new manufacturing facility.

“Our new home in Leamington Spa is key to our ambition to become an integral part of the British defence industry ecosystem, supporting a robust pipeline of UK-made armoured vehicles. We look forward to this exciting new chapter in NMS UK’s growth story.”

Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We welcome this latest investment from NMS UK Ltd, bringing with it another OEM vehicle maker to the area, and the benefits this brings in terms of supply chain opportunity and resilience. Warwickshire, Coventry and the wider West Midlands remains a major centre for vehicle design, testing, development and manufacture, and we look forward to working with David and his team to support the business as it scales up in the coming months and years”.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I want to make the West Midlands the best place in the UK to do business and this investment by NMS shows why our region continues to be the beating heart of UK advanced manufacturing and exporting. It will also mean 150 highly skilled jobs for local people. I will continue to work with our universities and training companies and through my Youth Plan to make sure our young people have the skills they need to secure these sorts of jobs and get the best start possible to their careers.”

Cllr Ella Billiald, Portfolio Holder for Arts and Economy at Warwick District Council, said: “We welcome David and his new team into their new site in Leamington. The company will be employing a range of skills, including young people, for whom apprenticeships will also be on offer. Manufacturing can provide a range of opportunities and provide skill development, and we welcome its continuation on this site at Tachbrook.”

Coventry & Warwickshire is a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). The area attracted a total of 53 foreign investment projects in the year 2023-24, placing it fourth in the UK overall, and per head of population the leading location.

Invest Coventry & Warwickshire works with national partners the Department for Business & Trade, and regional partners like West Midlands Growth Company to attract and support overseas businesses setting up and growing in the Coventry & Warwickshire area. Support is free and confidential, and bespoke to the needs of each client but includes help with site search, access to finance, skills and recruitment, links into local universities and further education colleges, and support with marcomms and networks. For more information on our support and help, please visit www.investcw.co.uk.