Defence Procurement Conference

Defence Procurement Conference Highlights the Importance of SME Engagement

One of the most interesting discussions at this year’s inaugural Defence Procurement Conference focused on the role SMEs can play within the future defence supply chain and the importance of earlier engagement between manufacturers, prime contractors and procurement teams.

The session highlighted several themes that resonate strongly with UK manufacturing businesses. These included strengthening sovereign capability, improving visibility of SME expertise, building more resilient domestic supply chains and creating clearer pathways for small or medium manufacturers to participate in defence programmes.

A key message throughout the discussion was that many SMEs already possess the technical capability, specialist knowledge and manufacturing flexibility required to support defence projects. However, greater collaboration between SMEs and prime contractors is often needed to ensure those capabilities are recognised and utilised effectively.

The panel speakers Amerie Bailey of Babcock International Group, Neil Jackson of BAE Systems and SME speakers discussed some of the challenges SMEs face when entering the defence supply chains of prime contractors. This included accreditation requirements, contractual obligations and the need for greater visibility of future demand. Long-term planning and earlier engagement can help manufacturers invest with greater confidence while supporting the resilience of UK defence supply chains.

For Goodflex Rubber, the discussions were particularly relevant. As a UK manufacturer of engineered rubber and silicone hoses, assemblies and mouldings, complemented by our Harltex seals, gaskets, mouldings and extrusions, we regularly support customers operating in demanding and highly regulated industries. Alongside our manufacturing capabilities, we provide CAD design, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping and 3D printing services, supporting both new product development and the replacement of legacy components where original drawings or tooling may no longer exist. These capabilities support defence programmes where reliability, product lifecycle management and continuity of supply are critical requirements.

Many of the themes discussed around quality, technical capability, responsiveness and supply chain resilience align closely with the strengths that specialist UK manufacturers bring to the market.

The conference provided a positive insight into the work being undertaken to increase SME participation across the defence sector and strengthen collaboration between organisations of all sizes. It was encouraging to see a shared commitment to making better use of UK manufacturing expertise and supporting the long-term development of sovereign capability within the UK defence manufacturing sector.

UK manufacturers continue to play an important role in supporting defence capability through specialist engineering, component manufacture, technical expertise and supply chain resilience. For companies such as Goodflex Rubber and Harltex, opportunities exist to contribute to defence programmes through the supply of engineered hoses, seals, gaskets, mouldings and extrusions, supported by in-house design and development capabilities.

We look forward to building on the connections made during the conference and exploring opportunities to support further defence programmes through our expertise in engineered rubber hoses, seals, gaskets, mouldings and extrusions.

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