Industry Chief Urges Industrial Strategy Must Boost Defence Supply Chain & Capability

Phil Black - PII Editor 14/10/2016

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The Government’s Industrial Strategy should be used to boost the capability of and, spin off technologies in, the UK defence and security supply chain according to the leader of Britain’s manufacturers

The call was made by Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation addressing senior executives at the annual conference of NDI, the organisation representing Britain’s Defence, Security, Aerospace and Space industries.

According to Mr Scuoler the on-going capability of these key sectors is vital to the future of high value manufacturing in the UK and, the capacity of prime contractor leadership. He urged Government to use the Strategy it is developing to help nurture and support key technologies and supply chains in a similar way to that which is adopted in the United States.

Commenting, Terry Scuoler, said:

“The advantage to the UK economy of maintaining key onshore capacity is clear. It is linked to the development of technology, job creation, supply chain development and potential future export sales and the forthcoming industrial strategy has a key role to play in nurturing and supporting this.

“I have also no doubt that the technologies developed on such major defence and security programmes will spin off into other sectors of our economy and help resolve other challenges faced in our ever changing world.”

Mr Scuoler welcomed the Government commitment to maintain defence and security spending, in particular the continued commitment to the F-35 programme and the announcement of the Trident Successor programme which will create and safeguard many jobs and create significant supply chain opportunities.

The NDI Annual Conference ‘Growth through Innovation’ is being held over two days involving companies in the Defence, Security, Space and Aerospace industries. It covers topics including cyber security, support for defence exports, current UK naval programmes, competitiveness, ways to exploit dual-use technology and how to work together to deliver capability and value to the UK. Speakers include: