The Labour Party Annual Conference 2023
SME4Labour and Babcock fringe: Making Defence Procurement Work for SMEs
🗓 Date: Monday, 9 October 2023
⏳ Time: 13:00
📍Location: SME4Labour POD (Meeting Room 22), ACC Liverpool, Kings Dock Street, Liverpool, England, L3 4FP
SME4Labour and Babcock fringe: Making Defence Procurement Work for SMEs with John Howie, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer; Ruth Anderson, Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent; Andrea Hough OBE, Chair at Atec Engineering Solutions and Emma Panteli, Chief of Staff & Head of Government Relations at Reaction Engines ltd. This panel discussion was chaired by John Woodcock, Baron Walney.
Ruth Anderson emphasized the importance of SMEs in the defense sector. She mentioned that SMEs bring a different perspective to political discussions and stressed the need to consider the defence sector within a broader context as part of the “defence family.” Anderson cited an example of a factory that produced equipment for military use during a demanding time in Afghanistan, highlighting the emotional and national importance of ensuring the safety and care of service personnel. She also touched on the role of SMEs in driving innovation and R&D, which can lead to technological advancements in the defence sector.
John Howie discussed the importance of creating a knowledge-sharing ecosystem within the defence industry. Howie also touched on the agility, technical development, and evolving skills required in the industry, highlighting the rapid pace at which technology and capabilities develop. He mentioned the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing the scale and capital required for rapid growth. To address this, Howie emphasized the role of organizations in supporting SMEs in developing different mindsets and capabilities, including factory building and skills development.
Andrea Hough emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships, especially in the defence technology sector. She discussed the challenges of commercializing technology and the need for support, particularly from organizations like Rolls Royce and government entities. Hough highlighted the agility and speed of relevance in technology development and the importance of a partnership approach to procurement. She also touched on the unique technologies that SMEs bring to the defence ecosystem. In summary, Hough stressed the need for support, collaboration, and recognition of SMEs’ contributions to defence capabilities.
In summary, this panel focused on making defence procurement more accessible and beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participants joined us for insightful discussions, heard expert perspectives, and took part in interactive sessions as we explored strategies to empower SMEs, drive innovation, and foster collaboration within the defence procurement landscape.
John Howie discussed the importance of creating a knowledge-sharing ecosystem within the defence industry. Howie also touched on the agility, technical development, and evolving skills required in the industry, highlighting the rapid pace at which technology and capabilities develop. He mentioned the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing the scale and capital required for rapid growth. To address this, Howie emphasized the role of organizations in supporting SMEs in developing different mindsets and capabilities, including factory building and skills development.
Andrea Hough emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships, especially in the defence technology sector. She discussed the challenges of commercializing technology and the need for support, particularly from organizations like Rolls Royce and government entities. Hough highlighted the agility and speed of relevance in technology development and the importance of a partnership approach to procurement. She also touched on the unique technologies that SMEs bring to the defence ecosystem. In summary, Hough stressed the need for support, collaboration, and recognition of SMEs’ contributions to defence capabilities.
In summary, this panel focused on making defence procurement more accessible and beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participants joined us for insightful discussions, heard expert perspectives, and took part in interactive sessions as we explored strategies to empower SMEs, drive innovation, and foster collaboration within the defence procurement landscape.
