Neil Marks MA MSc

Super proud to be part of this Make UK Defence initiative. It’s imperative that companies are well equipped for entering into defence and for those who are looking to grow it’s never to late to refresh your plans and to make sure you are charting the right course. To find out more we are going to be DPRTE for both days so come and find e50k Strategic Advisory and e50K in Micro Zone 2 - looking forward to seeing you there.

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The release of the much-anticipated UK Defence Industrial Strategy marks a pivotal shift in positioning Defence as a catalyst for national growth, innovation, and resilience. With bold reforms in procurement, investment, and industry collaboration, it sets the stage for a more agile, secure, and globally competitive Defence enterprise. But ambition must meet execution. With over 82% of Defence programmes rated Amber or Red (National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) report), a fundamental reset is needed. That means: - Streamlining procurement to accelerate delivery - Embedding commercial thinking and accountability - Embracing iterative development and innovation - Creating long-term opportunities for SMEs - Strengthening risk management and institutional learning At Baringa, we’re already helping clients tackle complex transformation challenges. With our expertise in supply chain optimisation, acquisition and procurement innovation, strategy, digital innovation, and stakeholder engagement, we are ready to support Defence in delivering this vision, unlocking value, accelerating delivery, and building a future-ready enterprise. We are ready to build ‘One Defence’ together. Read the UK DIS here: https://ow.ly/9BbO50WTnTA

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SMEs are the UK defence sector’s greatest untapped asset, but too many still face avoidable barriers when trying to break into the market. Based on recent research and industry feedback, the top three challenges haven’t changed, but their impact is growing: 1️⃣ Fragmented and complex routes into Defence. SMEs still face a maze of frameworks, portals and processes. Public procurement documentation often exceeds what’s legally required, frameworks close for years at a time, and there’s still no single, clear entry point for new suppliers. This complexity disproportionately affects smaller firms with limited time and resources. 2️⃣ Limited transparency when engaging with Primes. Despite good intentions, Primes remain the primary gatekeepers. Their supplier portals often provide little visibility on where submissions go or how they’re assessed, with minimal feedback. Primes’ SME spend reporting also varies widely, making it difficult to judge where opportunities actually are and how to build long‑term relationships. 3️⃣ Heavy commercial, legal and accreditation hurdles. Once a capability match is identified, SMEs hit time‑consuming obstacles: unique NDAs for every organisation, lengthy onboarding, DEFCON-heavy contractual terms, and accreditation requirements that can take months. These create cash‑flow strain and delay time-to-value for both sides. So what can be done? Practical solutions that would move the needle: 🔧 Simplify and standardise procurement routes. Establish a way in which SMEs can identify their capabilities for public sector tenders, perhaps via the new DOSBG, signposting to bidders in the pre-market engagement phase. Keep frameworks genuinely open and reduce over‑engineering of documentation to what is legally necessary. Provide clear signposting of where emerging tech aligns with Defence priorities. 🤝 Improve Prime–SME engagement transparency. Introduce a consistent standard for SME submissions, response timelines, and triage processes across all major Primes. Mandate annual, independently verified SME spend reporting to build trust and visibility. Encourage early‑stage technical dialogue (see point one above) so SMEs can protect IP and understand real need before investing heavily. 📄 Standardise commercial onboarding. Create a Defence-wide standard NDA, similar to common templates used in the legal sector. Introduce a “fast-track onboarding” model with Primes for SMEs meeting baseline criteria. Expand modular accreditation: allow SMEs to reuse certifications across Primes and MoD platforms without revalidation (yes JOSCAR is supposed to do this - but in reality?). Defence needs the innovation, agility and pace that SMEs bring. Reducing these barriers isn’t about lowering standards, it’s about removing friction that holds the entire ecosystem back. If the UK wants a more resilient, sovereign and innovative defence industrial base, this is where the real progress starts. We will continue to push this agenda.

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This is well worth a read - some thinking on spotting the good bets in the Defence sector.

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Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) - Project NYX UK Defence Innovation, part of UK Ministry of Defence, is pleased to announce Project NYX, the delivery of a Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD) for the Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) project. Project NYX is a flagship opportunity for industry to partner with Defence and shape the next generation of autonomous systems. The Army is seeking to develop an Uncrewed Air System (UAS) to pair with the Apache AH-64E attack helicopter as an ACP. The ACP will operate in a highly autonomous, "commanded not controlled" manner to perform multi-mission tasks in contested airspace, including reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike, countermeasure defeat, and integration with Launched Effects (LE). The ACP will enhance the lethality and survivability of the crewed platform and do so with a smaller logistic footprint and lower maintenance burden relative to the crewed platform. https://lnkd.in/e_qtmb7u

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Delivering measurable impact: +37% turnover growth in 6 months. Structured transformation. Clear governance. Disciplined execution. Proud to support leadership teams driving sustainable growth.

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How does defence surge, scale and sustain?  Following an engaging dinner held with senior defence leaders during DSEI, journalist and high-performance expert Matthew Syed and I reflect on how we can turn strategy into action through the lens of culture.  The UK’s Strategic Defence Review calls for an agile and integrated defence force to tackle global challenges. But what do we, as the Defence enterprise, need to implement and build on to help support that?   Read our key takeaways below. 

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There are a lot of whacky ideas out there on how to fund a much needed uplift in defence spending. The latest suggestion gaining traction seems to be issuing new bonds that are IHT free as suggested by Sir Nicholas Lyons but others have called for us to follow Germany and remove defence spending from the fiscal rules or join/create some form of 'defence bank'. But as I say in my latest Telegraph column there are only three ways to fund government spending: by higher taxes, higher borrowing or lower spending elsewhere. Whatever clever accounting, financing or policy trick that is conjured up will boil down to one of those three. And if it isn't obviously a tax rise or spending cut it will just be higher borrowing dressed up as something else. And with our current levels of debt that isn't something we can afford. So the PM and Chancellor need to be honest with the public and explain why spending cuts, specifically welfare cuts, are the only way we can sustainably pay for higher defence spending. https://lnkd.in/e7F8GNAW

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European Space Agency - ESA and UK-based Frazer Nash NDT Ltd have launched INVICTUS, a new programme to develop hypersonic technologies for reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch. Funded through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme and Technology Development Element, INVICTUS will test systems for sustained flight at Mach 5. The fully reusable experimental vehicle builds on earlier ESA initiatives and allows upgrades between test campaigns. It provides a platform for agencies, industry and academia to validate hypersonic technologies in realistic conditions. Flying at five times the speed of sound poses extreme engineering challenges. INVICTUS will test a hydrogen-fuelled precooled air-breathing propulsion system, designed to handle intense shock heating and surface friction. Based on ESA’s SABRE study and developed by Reaction Engines Ltd, the engine features a precooler that rapidly chills incoming air, making high-speed atmospheric flight possible. The engine will be tested as a complete flow path—from intake to afterburner—in an integrated aircraft. The lightweight design opens the door to spaceplanes that can take off like conventional aircraft and reach orbit, supporting dual-use applications in defence, mobility and access to space. Over the next 12 months, the consortium led by Frazer-Nash, including Spirit AeroSystems and Cranfield University, will deliver the vehicle’s preliminary design. ESA and UK authorities see INVICTUS as a key step toward European leadership in next-generation aerospace. #Aerospace #HypersonicTechnologies #ReusableVehicles

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Our latest "CapEx Impact Report" uncovers a significant increase in investment volumes within Aerospace & Defence companies, highlighting a concerning disparity in execution excellence. Key findings include: - 60% of companies are grappling with rising equipment costs, - 50% face challenges in decision-making processes, and - another 50% lack adequate budgets. This discrepancy results in missed opportunities, heightened risks, and mounting pressure to allocate resources effectively. So, what's the remedy? At EFESO Management Consultants, we swiftly translate insights into actionable strategies. Our approach challenges traditional technical norms, redefines design-to-value methodologies, and consistently delivers 20–30% savings through innovative engineering concepts. By modernizing CapEx frameworks to tackle current complexities, we help businesses avoid costly setbacks, budget exceedances, and unnecessary revisions in today's demanding capital-intensive environment. Discover the full CapEx Impact Report here: [Link to Report]

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That’s great news the NWAA is looking forward to working with UKDI and DASA to support the Defence industry in the North.

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​The Next Era of VR Motion Simulation Has Arrived. Royal Air Force Air Cadets Combined Cadet Force (CCF) | Official Combined Cadet Force Association North West Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association Dominic Surry British Veteran Owned HTC VIVE Air Cadet Charity Army Cadets UK | Official Royal Navy British Army Rodney Gray MBE Shaun Elmstrom MCGI CISM Meta East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

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Great to have Mark Lavis-Jones setting out how our digital approach to engineering delivery will increase collaboration and drive efficiency for UK Defence

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Mauriteft Consulting Ltd. is pleased to see the UK Government release its updated Veterans Strategy, anchored on three core themes: Celebrate • Contribute • Support. As an ERS Silver Award winning company with a proud association of working closely with ex-Forces partners, we welcome this focus on: - Celebrating veterans’ service and the diverse backgrounds that they bring: recognising the enduring value of military careers and making sure all veterans feel proud of their contribution. - Acknowledging the contributions made by veterans into high-skilled, high-growth sectors: the strategy highlights that veterans bring leadership, resilience and transferable skills that employers should harness. - Ongoing support that ensures veterans and their families access timely, tailored services: from health and housing, to employment transition pathways. The launch of the £50m VALOUR programme underpins this priority. This strategy reinforces why veteran hiring and inclusive talent programmes are a strategic win: not just for veterans, but for businesses seeking high-quality talent, diverse perspectives and strong team values. We look forward to working with our clients to: ✅ recognise veterans as a strategic asset ✅ build veteran-friendly recruitment and onboarding practices ✅ support veteran transition into civilian roles and unlock their full potential If your organisation is looking to explore how to engage, recruit or support veterans, get in touch - we’d love to help. https://lnkd.in/ed6N-yrm #Veterans #WorkforceInclusion #TalentStrategy #VeteranHiring #MauriteftConsulting

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Supporting the UK Defence community with assurance that stands up to scrutiny. We, at RINA deliver independent safety assessment and regulatory compliance in the Defence domain relating to platforms and maritime systems, underpinned by deep experience with DSA02, MAA RAs, JSPs and defence‑grade SMS frameworks. We help Defence delivery teams, prime contractors and suppliers reduce risk, improve assurance, and deliver safe capability into service. 👉 Safety Case creation & updates 👉 Independent Safety & Environmental Audit (ISEA) 👉 Hazard Logs / ASEMS support 👉 Certification & regulatory pathways Let’s collaborate to build safer, more resilient defence capabilities. #RINA #DefenceSafety #MAA #DSA02 #SafetyAssurance #SafetyCase #RA's #JSP's #SMS #ISEA #ASEMS

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Back in 2023 we wrote a paper about re-thinking defence acquisition in the UK (and defence programmes, for that matter). Many elements have come out subsequently in the Strategic Defence Review. Programmes need to be delivered quicker and with greater relevance to today's threats. This is basically a risk trade-off. We may not get everything the user wants, but it will be delivered quicker. Large programmes simply take too long. At Redstone Risk Ltd we believe in making risk information useful. Old fashioned approaches to risk management are no longer effective. We need to be more dynamic and embrace the technology around us. We have proven experience in helping our clients to manage risk and make defence capability more relevant for today's world.

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Defence spending is increasing – and with it, the opportunity for suppliers. Across the UK and allied markets, defence investment continues to rise, backed by long‑term commitments to capability development, modernisation programmes and ongoing support requirements. For suppliers that are informed and prepared, this represents a real opportunity to win more business. We are already seeing increased volumes of defence programmes and support contracts coming to market, alongside growing re‑tender activity as existing frameworks and contracts expire. Greater transparency in procurement is also opening up new entry points for capable suppliers, while continued emphasis on SME participation, innovation and competition is reshaping how defence buyers go to market. The differentiator will be understanding where defence spending is actually flowing, how procurement policy is being applied in practice, and which frameworks, programmes and re‑procurements suppliers should be aligning to now in order to compete effectively. To support this, we’re hosting an upcoming co-hosted Defence Contracts International & DPRTE free to attend webinar: "Winning Defence Contracts in 2026: Market Opportunities, Frameworks & Emerging Trends", taking place on Tuesday 20th January 2026 at 11:00am Led by Grahame Steed our Director of Public Policy and Research, the session will focus on: •  Defence market opportunities backed by real procurement data •  Upcoming frameworks, re‑tenders and programmes suppliers can act on early •  How the Procurement Act, transparency and AI are changing how contracts are competed and won •  How successful suppliers are positioning themselves to improve pipeline and win rates If your priority is building sustainable defence business and converting increased spending into real contract wins, this session will provide clear, practical insight. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQ8y8u2D

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