(Commonwealth_Europe) A defence drone company has chosen Swindon for its biggest UK site, moving to one of the town’s most striking landmarks. Tekever, which has main bases in both Portugal and the UK, has opened a new facility inside the Grade II*-listed Spectrum Building, a modernist structure designed by Sir Norman Foster in the early 1980s and even featured in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.
The company says the Swindon site will be central to its future growth in Britain, with plans to build one of its largest drones in the UK for the first time and also step up production of another key model. Defence Secretary John Healey visited the new base on Monday, describing it as a significant step in strengthening the UK’s defence manufacturing capacity.
For local leaders, Tekever’s arrival is a major boost. Swindon Borough Council leader Jim Robbins called it a giant endorsement of the town’s efforts to attract high-tech industries and said it reflects Swindon’s growing reputation as a place for innovation and advanced manufacturing. He added that the council wants to highlight the town’s strengths and improve Swindon’s status as a national leader in defence technology.
Swindon is fast becoming a hub for drone companies. Tekever joins Stark and Munin Dynamics, both already established in the town, while last week another firm, Flyby, announced plans to set up operations there as well. Flyby’s CEO Jon Parker described Swindon as being “on a new trajectory” and said his company wanted to play a major part in that momentum.
Beyond expanding its operations, Tekever says it is keen to invest in local people, with plans to help develop young talent in Wiltshire and create opportunities for the next generation of engineers and specialists.
Local MPs have warmly welcomed the announcement. Will Stone, who represents Swindon North, said he was incredibly proud that Tekever had chosen the town as its base. He hopes the move will spark the creation of a “drone cluster of excellence” in Swindon, one that could bring highly skilled, well-paid jobs while opening new pathways in education and training for young people in the area.
For many in Swindon, the decision feels like a moment of change. What was once a landmark best known for its architecture and cameo in a Bond film is now set to become a centre for cutting-edge technology, signalling that the town is carving out a new role for itself in the future of defense and aerospace.
