Healey Pledges 'New Age of Industrialisation' — UK Shipbuilding, Skills and a £115m Research Vessel

John Healey will use his first conference speech as chancellor to outline what he calls "a new age of industrialisation" for the UK, prioritising advanced manufacturing, a revived shipbuilding sector and investment in worker training.

With his first Budget a month away, Healey is under pressure to address rising government borrowing. He is not expected to set out fiscal details in Liverpool; instead, his speech will focus on a forward-looking industrial vision and what he describes as a "new confidence in Britain."

Shipbuilding and Naval Investment

Healey will confirm that three new floating docks for HM Royal Naval Base Clyde at Faslane will be built in the UK rather than put out to international tender. These docks, first outlined in 2023, are designed to modernise Faslane's facilities to support the next generation of British submarines and form part of a wider £15bn upgrade programme for Royal Navy shipyards. The docks are projected to come into service in the early 2030s.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh also said the government will commission a new marine research vessel as part of what she called a "new era of reindustrialisation." The chancellor is expected to announce around £115m in funding for that ship, which is likewise scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s.

"By backing British shipyards, we are not only boosting national security but also securing resilience in the industries that will drive growth today," Healey said ahead of the speech. "We are building the capabilities the country needs for the future."

Skills and Worker Training

Healey will also pledge to restore the Union Learning Fund with £15m of funding drawn from existing government budgets. The fund, administered with trade unions, will provide training for workers across England — open to employees whether or not they are union members — covering essential English, maths and digital skills and training for roles in growing sectors such as advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies including AI.

Reaction and Economic Context

Opposition figures criticised the announcements. Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith dismissed the measures as "reheated announcements," saying there was "no clarity on where the money is coming from" and accusing Labour of avoiding tough fiscal choices. The GMB union, which campaigned for the decision to build the docks in the UK, described the move as a "massive boost" for domestic yards and their communities.

Separately, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will publish a survey showing falling activity across key sectors such as retail and services in the three months to September, with manufacturing declining more moderately. CBI deputy chief economist Alpesh Paleja warned that rising energy and employment costs, weak demand and uncertainty ahead of the Budget are squeezing profit margins and holding back investment.

Trade unions are also pressing Healey to act on the cost of living. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has urged the chancellor to "do something for workers and the working class," including unfreezing income tax thresholds and taking further steps on energy bills.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who will give the conference's major address on Tuesday, has previously set out ambitions to "reindustrialise" Britain, remarks he reinforced during recent meetings with international leaders.

Healey's conference speech aims to frame industrial policy as a mixture of national security, economic resilience and skills investment — while leaving detailed fiscal choices to the Budget next month.