On Thursday 11 June, ALFED’s CEO, Nadine Bloxsome and Industry & Skills Development Manager, Rachel Wiffen attended the Defence Procurement Conference in Birmingham, a two-day event bringing together manufacturers, SMEs, defence contractors, government representatives and industry stakeholders to discuss opportunities within the UK’s evolving defence supply chain. The conference was designed to provide practical routes for businesses looking to access defence procurement opportunities and strengthen engagement with the Ministry of Defence and prime contractors.
The timing of the event proved particularly notable. As delegates gathered to discuss defence investment, industrial readiness and procurement opportunities, significant political news broke regarding the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey following disagreements over future defence spending plans. The development inevitably became a talking point throughout the conference and prompted discussion about what it could mean for future defence investment and procurement programmes.
Despite the political backdrop, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with manufacturers, defence suppliers and ALFED members active within the sector, including RamBase. It was encouraging to see strong representation from manufacturing businesses exploring how they can support growing defence requirements whilst diversifying into new markets.
One of the most insightful sessions focused on the opportunities and challenges facing UK manufacturers as defence spending increases. The panel brought together representatives from industry, finance, manufacturing support organisations and defence supply chain experts to discuss how UK businesses can position themselves to benefit from future investment.
Several themes emerged consistently throughout the discussion.
Confidence and Clarity Remain Critical
While defence spending is widely expected to continue increasing, speakers highlighted that manufacturers require confidence and visibility before making significant investments in people, facilities, equipment and accreditations.
A recurring message was that many SMEs are willing and capable of supporting defence programmes but need greater certainty regarding future contracts, procurement timelines and investment commitments. Without that confidence, businesses are understandably cautious about committing resources to lengthy qualification and accreditation processes.
SMEs Must Be Better Connected to Opportunities
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the challenges SMEs face when attempting to access defence supply chains.
Several manufacturers in attendance highlighted frustrations around navigating procurement frameworks, identifying the right contacts within prime contractors and understanding where genuine opportunities exist. Whilst support initiatives are available, there was broad agreement that more needs to be done to connect innovative UK manufacturers with defence programmes earlier in the process.
The panel acknowledged that many SMEs possess world-class manufacturing capabilities but often struggle to gain visibility within complex procurement structures.
Manufacturing Strengths Already Exist in the UK
The discussion also highlighted several areas where UK manufacturers are already recognised as world-class, including:
- Precision engineering and machining
- Advanced materials and composites
- Surface treatments and heat treatment technologies
- Injection moulding and tooling
- Specialist control systems and advanced manufacturing processes
However, speakers also identified capability gaps in areas such as battery technology, high-performance motors, sensors and certain casting and forging applications.
The clear message was that UK manufacturers have much of the expertise required to support future defence programmes, but stronger industrial strategies and clearer routes to market will be needed to maximise these opportunities.
Less Analysis, More Delivery
Perhaps the strongest consensus from the session centred around the need for quicker decision-making.
Manufacturers repeatedly stressed the importance of reducing delays, accelerating procurement processes and creating clearer pathways for investment. Whilst strategic reviews, plans and consultations are necessary, there was a strong feeling that industry is now ready to move from planning to implementation.
One panellist summarised the mood particularly well by calling for:
“Less analysis and more action.”
ALFED’s Perspective
For the aluminium sector, the discussions reinforced many of the themes ALFED continues to champion across government engagement and industrial policy.
Whether the focus is defence, infrastructure, aerospace or energy transition, manufacturers consistently require three things:
- Confidence to invest
- Visibility of future demand
- Faster and clearer decision-making
The defence sector presents significant opportunities for UK manufacturing, particularly for companies with advanced engineering, processing and materials capabilities. However, unlocking those opportunities will depend on creating an environment where businesses can invest with confidence and access opportunities more effectively.
As ALFED continues to advocate for policies that strengthen UK manufacturing competitiveness, many of the messages heard at the Defence Procurement Conference will sound familiar to our members. The opportunity is clear. The challenge now is ensuring that policy, procurement and investment move at the pace required to capture it.
