US-based Amentum plans to create 3,000 jobs across the UK, including in the Humber region, as part of a major drive in nuclear and defence sectors supported by government initiatives and international partnerships.
A major engineering and technology firm is poised to significantly boost employment in the Humber region as part of an ambitious UK-wide expansion. Amentum, a US-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, announced plans to create 3,000 new jobs over the next four years across its UK operations, including a manufacturing facility in Barton, Lincolnshire.
Currently, Amentum employs around 100 people at its Barton site, with additional staff at locations in Newcastle and Stockton, where it has 300 employees. The firm is also expanding its workforce in the North West, with recruitment targeted in Cumbria, Warrington, Knutsford, and Manchester. While precise hiring figures for Barton remain unconfirmed, the company aims for substantial growth driven by its work in the nuclear power and defence sectors.
This expansion follows Amentum securing roles on a key government framework related to nuclear waste management, underscoring its deepening involvement in critical infrastructure projects. The company is a lead delivery partner for the UK's new nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C and is providing technical and project expertise for small modular reactors and fusion research. Across the UK, Amentum employs about 6,000 people and recently enhanced its capabilities through a merger with Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses.
John Heller, Amentum’s CEO, highlighted the significance of international collaboration, particularly between the UK and US. Speaking ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, Heller emphasised the vital role of the UK-US partnership in driving economic growth, energy resilience, and national security. Mark Whitney, president of Amentum Energy & Environment, underlined the company’s commitment to innovation by investing in digital engineering, artificial intelligence, and automation to improve delivery of government programmes on both sides of the Atlantic. Based on current projections, Amentum expects to increase its UK headcount by 50% over the next few years.
Amentum's expansion is part of a broader wave of growth in the UK's nuclear and defence sectors, which are serving as engines for employment and technological advancement. For example, the Ministry of Defence has recently announced the creation of 1,500 skilled roles at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire, where salaries are reported to be 20% above the national average. Industry data highlights a workforce that includes thousands of engineers and scientists, all contributing to both national security and economic prosperity.
In the naval nuclear sector, Rolls-Royce has secured a landmark £9 billion contract to design, manufacture, and support reactors for the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, promising over 1,000 new UK jobs and safeguarding thousands more. Meanwhile, Babcock has been awarded over £100 million in contracts to support the development and maintenance of the Dreadnought Class submarines, supporting an additional 250 jobs.
These developments align with government initiatives designed to underpin the UK's nuclear capabilities and skills development. A newly formed Nuclear Skills Taskforce, chaired by Sir Simon Bollom, brings together government, industry, and academia to ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent for the sector’s growth. At Sellafield, a long-term partnership involving Amentum and other Programme and Project Partners is progressing major infrastructure projects to safely manage nuclear waste, with a focus on diversity and inclusion recognised by an Investors in Diversity Award.
Parallel investments in defence manufacturing, including plans to build new munitions factories and procure long-range weapons, further underscore the government's commitment to bolstering the UK’s strategic capabilities and job creation. This £1.5 billion initiative aims to create more than 1,000 new jobs and support hundreds of existing roles, reinforcing the message that defence and nuclear industries are key pillars of the UK’s economic and security future.
In sum, Amentum’s UK expansion mirrors a wider national trend of industrial growth underpinned by strategic government support and international partnerships. These positive developments signal a promising horizon for the Humber region and the country’s broader ambition to be a leader in responsible innovation and advanced manufacturing in nuclear and defence sectors.
Source: Noah Wire Services
