Partnership with industry can deliver strong defence
The Government should work more collaboratively with industry to deliver efficiency, boost UK prosperity and enhance national security, ADS says today.
Speaking ahead of the 2017 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, the UK trade association for the defence and security sectors set out a series of proposed improvements to defence procurement.
ADS proposals include:
- Economic factors, including employment and export potential, should be consistently taken into account in all defence procurement decisions.
- A more flexible approach to contracting over longer periods of time would help UK defence companies to achieve greater efficiency savings and give them more freedom to innovate.
- Earlier engagement with industry would allow UK companies to develop new cutting edge technologies for the Armed Forces.
- Commitment to a Defence Sector Deal between Government and industry will give businesses long-term confidence to invest and create more high value jobs in the UK.
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:
“The Government needs to seize the opportunity to work more closely with industry, delivering better value for taxpayers, economic growth and a more secure nation.
“A more flexible and collaborative approach to procurement would support investment in innovation, giving our Armed Forces access to the best in cutting edge technology.
“The UK defence industry offers both world-class capability and ever-improving productivity, while providing 140,000 jobs in communities right across the country.
“A closer partnership between Government and industry, based on smarter procurement policies, can help the UK build on its position as a world-leader in the sector and enhance our national security.”
DSEI 2017 takes place from 12 to 15 September at Excel. ADS is the coordinator of the UK Pavilion, which this year is the largest ever, with more than 150 companies exhibiting from every region of the UK.
ADS today launched its 2017 Defence Outlook and 2017 Security Outlook reports, setting out the performance of these two sectors in the UK in the last year.
The two sectors together directly employ more than 240,000 people in the UK, with combined turnover of £35bn and exports in 2016 worth more than £10bn.
Sector highlights include:
- Six out of 10 companies in the defence sector expect growth as a result of rising export opportunities in the next 12 months.
- The UK security sector grew by 17 per cent last year alone, and has seen its turnover double in the last five years.
- Defence industry productivity has risen seven times faster than in the rest of the UK economy since 2010, with 23 per cent growth compared to an economy-wide figure of 3 per cent.
- The UK is the world’s second largest defence exporter over the last 10 years, and the fifth largest security sector exporter in 2016.
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt added:
“Businesses in the UK’s internationally successful defence and security sectors make a vital contribution to keeping our country safe, as well as delivering more than 240,000 jobs and £10bn exports.
“This year’s DSEI is an important opportunity for the UK’s defence and security companies to showcase their expertise, and to develop new partnerships around the world.
“These industries are a UK success story, boasting rapidly rising productivity and confidence in future growth prospects. It is important that the Government continues to work closely with businesses in these sectors through industrial strategy to make sure they continue to grow, innovate and succeed.
Notes to Editors
- ADS Group is the UK trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, with more than 1,000 member businesses.
- The 2017 UK Defence Outlook Report is available HERE.
- The 2017 UK Security Outlook Report is available HERE.