Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
A £2.6 million skills centre and 125 new jobs are part of ambitious growth plans for Dorset’s only Innovation Park.
The jobs and centre are at the former nuclear site at Winfrith, owned by Dorset Council and run by Dorset Innovation Park Ltd.
The operators have announced a year of progress and development, research and international partnerships in defence, security, and autonomous technologies.
The company took over full management of the enterprise zone in July 2026 and has since delivered operational efficiencies valued at more than £500,000.
Cllr Richard Biggs, Dorset Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economic growth, and strategic assets, said: “Since the company began work in September 2025, our shared focus has been on creating the conditions for businesses to invest and grow.
“The increase in employment, commitment to new facilities, and improvements to the park’s operation show that this work is producing results.
“Our responsibility now is to build on that momentum, connecting commercial growth with the skills and research capabilities needed to sustain it.”
Most of the 125 new full-time equivalent jobs were created through the expansion of businesses already on the site, supported by Dorset Innovation Park Ltd and Dorset Council.
A key part of the park’s future plans is the proposed Advanced Engineering and Defence Skills Centre, a partnership between Yeovil College and Dorset Council.
Yeovil College has proposed around £2.4 million of Defence Technical Excellence College capital investment for the centre, alongside an additional £800,000 for specialist engineering and defence equipment.
This funding is still subject to approval from the Department for Education and the Ministry of Defence.
Dorset Council is also exploring additional investment and support for the project.
The aim is to create a permanent hub for advanced engineering and defence skills at the park, offering full-time technical education, apprenticeships, adult training, and employer-led workforce development to support the region’s growing defence and advanced manufacturing industries.
Other major projects underway include Bournemouth University’s Security Operations Centre of the Future (SOCOF), based at BattleLab. This facility would strengthen cyber security research and skills provision.
Dorset Innovation Park and the council are also partners in a project seeking to create a £20 million Global Autonomy Cluster, funded through the Local Innovation Partnership Fund and led by Plymouth University.
As part of this programme, businesses are preparing a capital funding request for a Multi Domain Autonomy Command and Control Centre. Plans also include the possibility of drone corridor connecting the park to Portland.
The initiatives are designed to expand the region’s drone and autonomy testing infrastructure, with the aim of making Dorset the UK’s leading centre for testing autonomous systems across land, sea, and air.
The park’s growing capabilities will be highlighted in a new Dorset Defence Prospectus, which is being developed in collaboration with businesses and partners throughout the county.
Due to be published by the end of 2026, the prospectus will showcase a sector that already contributes £437 million to Dorset’s economy and outline further opportunities for investment.
A delegation from the University of Connecticut is expected to visit the site to discuss collaboration opportunities around a submarine programme.
Kevin Forshaw, managing director of Dorset Innovation Park Ltd, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for Dorset Innovation Park, with significant growth projected for next year.
“Dorset’s technological role in UK defence is not fully appreciated, and it is encouraging to be working with leading companies on the park and across the surrounding area to raise awareness of our contribution to the nation’s security and resilience.
“This, in turn, brings much-needed growth and high-value jobs to the regional economy.”
