Speakers
- Grahame Steed
Director of Public Policy & Research, BiP Solutions - Andrew Kinninburgh
Director General, MakeUK Defence
Overview
As the UK enters a period of sustained defence investment, suppliers to the defence sector face both significant opportunity and increasing complexity.
This jointly themed DCI / DPRTE webinar brings together policy insight and supplier-facing intelligence to explore what the defence marketplace will look like in 2026 and beyond. Drawing on key themes from DPRTE 2026, alongside MakeUK Defence’s role in connecting suppliers with buyers, this session will help attendees understand how government priorities, industrial strategy and long-term investment plans are reshaping the defence supply chain.
Grahame Steed and Andrew Kinninburgh will examine the implications of the Strategic Defence Review, the Defence Industrial Strategy and the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, with a particular focus on what suppliers — especially SMEs — should be doing now to position themselves for success.
What the Webinar Will Cover
- The key defence policy and market trends shaping the UK defence environment in 2026 and beyond
- Practical insights from DPRTE 2026 — what buyers are looking for and where opportunity is emerging
- The role of MakeUK in increasing supply chain resilience
- How suppliers can engage more effectively with the MOD during a period of increased defence spending
- What SMEs should understand about working with prime contractors and Tier 1 suppliers
- Insights into MakeUK Defence’s Meet the Buyer (Prime Contractors) Zone at DPRTE 2026
- What suppliers need to know about:
- The Strategic Defence Review
- The Defence Industrial Strategy
- The role and importance of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan
- Where demand is most likely to grow and which capability areas may require additional supply-chain support
Who Should Attend?
This webinar will be particularly valuable for:
- SMEs currently supplying — or seeking to supply — the defence sector
- Companies looking to engage more successfully with the MOD or prime contractors
- Organisations attending or considering attending DPRTE 2026
- Commercial, strategy, business development and policy professionals within defence-related industries
Key Takeaways for Attendees
By the end of this session, attendees will:
- Understand how defence investment priorities are translating into real supplier opportunities
- Be clearer on how to align their capabilities to MOD and prime contractor needs
- Gain practical insight into how to prepare for engagement at DPRTE 2026
- Leave with actionable guidance on positioning for long-term success in the defence marketplace
