UK Security exports in 2019 were £7.2 billion, a rise from £5.2 billion in 2018, according to the latest official figures from government. However, much of the increase can be attributed to the new registration of UK subsidiaries of US companies (such as McAfee Security UK) and the channelling of some of their global revenues through their UK accounts.
Cyber security export sales jumped to £3.9bn from £2.1bn the previous year, making up more than half the total UK security exports. Next by category comes ‘screening and detection’, then communication equipment, surveillance, and data analytics and storage. For the defence and security UK export statistics in full, published by the Department for International Trade, visit gov.uk.
At the defence and security trade body ADS, Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: “The UK’s defence and security industries are securing exports worth billions of pounds to our economy that sustain tens of thousands of high value jobs. Today’s official figures show our security sector rapidly growing its international cyber security sales as demand rises for our world-leading capability in this important market.
“Our innovative and internationally competitive defence and security sectors are well placed to make a major contribution to driving UK prosperity as we work to recover from the pandemic.”
ADS is running a webinar on October 21 with Lucy Bird, the Director for Transport Security, Resilience and Response in the Department for Transport. For other ADS events visit https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/events/.
