23 September 2025
The Great South West (GSW) and Bournemouth University hosted a business breakfast during the Liberal Democrat Annual Conference, bringing together business leaders, MP’s and academics to explore the region’s role in shaping investment, innovation and skills at both local and national levels.
The roundtable was joined by Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Treasury Spokesperson, alongside Richard Foord MP and Vikki Slade MP. Professor Alison Honour, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, and Karl Tucker, Chair of GSW, led discussions on the shared challenges and policies needed to unlock growth.
Dr Steve Freeman, Founding Director of Renewable Energy Partners, highlighted the work of the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster – a shared mission to create the conditions that will unlock billions of pounds of investment in nationally significant clean energy projects centred around the Portland Port.
“The potential to strengthen the UK’s energy security and resilience, while delivering economic benefits for communities in Dorset and across the wider region, cannot be underestimated,” said Dr Freeman.
While the event covered a wide range of opportunities, offshore wind emerged as a natural partner to the region’s strengths in defence and security.
“The convergence of these two sectors presents a major blue-green security opportunity for the South West,” said Dr Freeman.
The defence industry contributes up to £12 billion a year to the UK economy, with the South West accounting for around £6.9 billion in Ministry of Defence (MoD) spending in 2023/24 – making it one of the UK’s most defence-intensive regions.
The region is already a powerhouse of innovation and expertise in defence and security and has long played a pivotal role in protecting national interests. It is home to a strong base of academic and technical excellence that have deep ties to the sector. Universities such as Plymouth, Exeter and Bournemouth, together with Bournemouth & Poole College and Yeovil College, deliver leading research and training in cyber security, aerospace, marine engineering and autonomous systems. These are the skills needed to support future defence and safeguard offshore infrastructure.
As offshore wind accelerates to become the backbone of the UK’s clean energy system, the South West’s unique combination of defence expertise and emerging offshore wind capacity provides a natural competitive edge in delivering integrated “blue-green” security solutions.
With over 2,700 offshore wind turbines in operation, connected by more than 3,000 kilometres of subsea cables, the need for surveillance and protection has become a national priority. By building on the South West’s strengths, it can position itself as a global leader in offshore infrastructure security.
Delivering this vision will require strategic collaboration between the MoD, the defence private sector, the offshore wind industry and academia. Ensuring the UK’s clean energy assets are protected while unlocking new opportunities for innovation, high-value jobs and regional growth.
