BAE Systems has signed a new 10-year lease at Brough, maintaining its huge footprint in East Yorkshire.

The global aerospace and defence business has recently made the strategic site its centre for digital engineering excellence, with 500,000 sq ft of Humber Enterprise Park occupied.

BAE had sold up in 2014, becoming the anchor tenant with office, warehouse and research and development space retained at a site where the legacy stretches back more than 100 years.

The home of the iconic Hawk, recent recruitment plans revealed 100 new roles, adding to the 700 employees already supporting the delivery of some of the world’s most advanced defence programmes. These include the future combat air system, Tempest, and the Dreadnought submarine fleet.

James Hardstaff, general manager at BAE Systems Brough, said: “There’s a really bright future ahead for BAE Systems in Brough. With activity focusing on engineering some of the most advanced air and submarine programmes in the world, our people will be contributing to the development of critical future technologies.

The renewal of our lease with Humber Enterprise Park and recent investment in the site ensures we will retain our longstanding history with the area, providing high-skilled jobs and supporting the local supply chain.”

Much of the work at Brough involves design, test and evaluation. It brings together new and novel digital engineering technologies such as synthetic modelling and model-based systems engineering. The roles are across design, mission systems, integration and software disciplines. 

The commitment comes with BAE Systems shares currently trading at a record high, as western countries vow to increase defence spending in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reports suggest an order book worth almost £50 billion and a backlog of work worth even more for the FTSE 100 constituent.

Aviation pioneer Robert Blackburn first selected the Brough site for manufacturing back in 1916, making the site one of the oldest aircraft factories in the world. Later, under BAE ownership – having been acquired by Hawker Siddeley prior – it had welcomed third party businesses to the sprawling facility, which had its own operational runway until recent years.

Following its acquisition in 2020, a secondary buy-out of the 79-acre park, Westcore Europe has invested heavily with a view to repositioning the significant site and its mixed-use proposition.

Victorian Morgan, director of asset management at Westcore, said: “We are delighted that BAE Systems is committed to remain at Humber Enterprise Park for the longer term, whilst also creating more potential jobs.

Thanks to BAE Systems, HEP is well known for enterprise and we have a thriving mix of large corporations through to incubator businesses expanding on site. We have invested significantly in recent years to deliver high quality workspaces and make enhancements to the public realm as part of our ongoing commitment to transform the Humber Enterprise Park into a destination.”

Working with asset management partner, Citivale, Westcore has extensively refurbished five major office buildings at Humber Enterprise Park. Bluebird, Firebrand, Hawk, Buccaneer and Mercury – named after iconic aeroplanes associated with the site – all offer Grade A office suites of a combined 40,000 sq ft.

Citivale acted for Westcore Europe and PPH Commercial is marketing agent for the scheme.