A £4bn maritime partnership with Indonesia, led by Babcock, is set to secure about 1,000 UK jobs across Rosyth, Bristol and Plymouth, according to the Government. For once, the big news sits outside the M25.

Under the Maritime Partnership Programme, British shipbuilding expertise will help Indonesia develop naval capability and build more than 1,000 fishing vessels to strengthen food security. Construction will take place in Indonesian yards, with UK teams providing design, systems and training.

Most of the UK roles are expected at Babcock’s Rosyth yard, with further posts at the company’s Bristol site and at Devonport in Plymouth. Ministers say this work will secure skilled positions and keep the yards busy on long‑term planning and integration.

Keir Starmer said the agreement shows ‘international partnerships deliver jobs, opportunity and growth’, framing it as a boost to shared security in the Indo‑Pacific. Downing Street plans to trail the deal around the G20 stage in calls with President Prabowo Subianto.

Jakarta’s side is focused on investment in local shipbuilding, fisheries and maritime security. President Prabowo said vessels would be built domestically with UK know‑how and would ‘empower local fishermen and coastal communities’ while protecting marine biodiversity.

Babcock, which runs Rosyth and Devonport, will lead Britain’s industrial role. Chief executive David Lockwood called it ‘a major commitment’ that will have ‘positive economic impact across the UK’ and open space for SME suppliers.

The deal also nods to defence ties. The Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group stopped in Jakarta over summer, and HMS Spey visited earlier this year. Officials say the partnership will make joint training easier and improve how the two navies work together.

Technology transfer is baked in. Both countries plan research into next‑generation shipbuilding practices, including automation and artificial intelligence. Babcock will seek closer ties between universities on precision engineering, digital ship design and integrated naval systems.

The UK’s Blue Planet Fund will support sustainable deployment of the new boats, with programmes on fish‑stock assessment, fisheries management, marine conservation and community‑led coastal resilience. That sustainability wrapper is central to Indonesia’s food‑security push.

Ministers pitch this as part of a wider export run. Recent headline deals include a reported £10bn contract with Norway for new anti‑submarine warfare destroyers, said to support 4,000 UK jobs, and an £8bn agreement with Türkiye for 20 Typhoon jets, which the Government says secures 20,000 more.

For Northern firms in advanced manufacturing, software and marine electronics, the interest is in the supply chain. With hulls built in Indonesia, the UK value will sit in design, integration and kit. Companies from the Tyne to the Humber will be watching for work packages in the months ahead.

The jobs headline matters, but the proof will be in apprenticeships, order books and tenders that reach beyond the usual suspects. We’ll keep an eye on how much of this promised growth lands in the North-and how quickly.