Defence Online

DPRTE Engage partner Dstl exceeds spend target with SMEs

Homeland July 23, 2020

DPRTE Engage Online 2020 partner, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), has exceeded its 2019/20 procurement spend target with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

In 2019 Dstl highlighted its commitment to working with a wide range of innovative SMEs. The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has set an ambitious target that 25% of its procurement spend will go to SMEs by 2022 . Dstl is delighted to announce a substantial increase in spend with SMEs in the past Financial Year (FY) 2019-20, from £72.6m to £86.1m, meaning that over 27% of its external spend on science and technology (S&T) went to SMEs, either directly or via a prime supplier.

Dstl is still actively recruiting SMEs to join its supply chain, which grew by 17% last FY, and will soon be launching its SME action plan to make it easier for SMEs to work with it.

Rob Solly, Executive Sponsor of Dstl’s SME Searchlight said: “I’m delighted that SMEs are playing a larger role in our supply chain, bringing added agility and innovation to Dstl’s research. SME Searchlight is committed to continue this growth and we look forward to meeting new potential suppliers at Venturefest South in October.”

Vicki Shepherd, Head of Commercial Services Dstl, said: “I am proud of the work of my commercial team, and the technical and project staff working alongside them, who have worked tirelessly to encourage new companies to join our supply chain, thus supporting MOD to move towards its target whilst allowing Dstl to deliver high impact S&T.”

The figures are based on draft accounts (subject to audit). The figures for both years have been recalculated to include improved data, direct spend with SMEs and spend via framework contracts. They may be revised in the future to include other contract types.

Dstl are Official Event Partners at DPRTE Engage Online 2020. The event’s Technology and Innovation Knowledge Transfer Zone will bring together some of the leading technology organisations, such as DASA and Dstl, to deliver sessions designed to keep you up to date on defence technology innovations, how to access funding and how you can bring your product to the marketplace.

Official DPRTE Engage Partner: Dstl

Dstl’s Division Head for Defence and Security Analysis, Rob Solly, will also be a speaker at the virtual event’s Keynote Arena.

As Dstl’s Division Head for Defence and Security Analysis since April 2015, Mr Solly is responsible for delivering approximately £100M of research and analysis per year. This work is delivered by a broad range of industrial and academic partners as well as Rob’s Division of 600 analysts, human scientists and systems engineers.

Book your place today and join over 1,500 key decision makers at this hugely important virtual event – https://www.dprte.co.uk/book-now/

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Post written by: Matt Brown