“Government procurement can deliver far more than the supply of a service or a vessel…”
August 27, 2026By Seawork Press FP
Griffon Marine
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UK Government First Secretary of State Louise Haigh visited Griffon Marine to see how government procurement is supporting British jobs, skills and apprenticeship opportunities.
Griffon Marine welcomed Louise Haigh, First Secretary of State, as the Government highlighted the role that public procurement can play in supporting British jobs, skills and opportunities.
The visit to Griffon Marine shipyard at Trafalgar Wharf, Portsmouth followed a recommendation from colleagues at the National Shipbuilding Office, who identified Griffon Marine as an excellent example of how government procurement is already delivering social value within communities through the company’s work for the Ministry of Defence’s Boats in Service programme.
The visit coincided with an announcement on the Government’s plans for central government procurement, with a focus on strengthening the benefits that public spending can deliver for British jobs and skills.
During her visit, Ms Haigh toured Griffon Marine’s shipyard and saw first-hand how the company’s work supports employment, skills development and opportunities within the UK maritime sector.
Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine, said, “We were delighted to welcome Louise Haigh to our shipyard and to showcase the work being undertaken by our teams in Portsmouth. The Boats in Service programme demonstrates how government procurement can deliver far more than the supply of a service or a vessel – it can create good British jobs, develop valuable skills and provide opportunities for people within the communities where that work takes place.
“As a British maritime business, we are proud of the contribution our people make to the UK’s maritime capability, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate how investment in British companies and British skills can deliver lasting value.”
