Shipbuilding: Small Businesses

(asked on 4th December 2023) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to encourage the involvement of SMEs within the shipbuilding sector of the defence industry.


Answered by
James Cartlidge Portrait
James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This question was answered on 7th December 2023

We recognise that SMEs and social enterprises make a significant contribution to the defence supply chain, including shipbuilding. The National Shipbuilding Strategy has introduced a number of policy objectives which include creating opportunities for UK suppliers where possible, furthering the opportunities available to SMEs within the sector.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence published its SME Action Plan in 2022 outlining specific commitments to improve engagement with smaller businesses including improving visibility of opportunities and simplifying our procurement approach. We are also encouraging our major suppliers to publish their own sub-contract opportunities through the Defence Sourcing Portal, making it easier for SMEs to find and bid in for defence work.

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