DPRTE 2026: A Defining Moment for UK Defence Procurement

Homeland April 7, 2026

Another DPRTE Expo has drawn to a close – and by every measure, DPRTE 2026 has been the most significant yet.

From standing-room keynote sessions to a buzzing exhibition floor and knowledge zones alive with focused discussion, this year’s event captured something of the moment we are in: a defence sector undergoing profound transformation, with real pressure to turn increased investment into real capability and value.

We caught up with a number of voices from across the event, and together they paint a compelling picture of why DPRTE has become the essential gathering for UK defence procurement and supply chain.

Building a Brand in Defence

Alun Bowen, Head of MOD Strategy and Relationships at Veolia, was refreshingly direct about what DPRTE delivers for his organisation. For Veolia – a business operating at the intersection of sustainability and defence infrastructure – being visible to the right people is critical.

“Events such as DPRTE allow us to deliver brand awareness across the defence sector,” he told us, “and that’s what’s been really interesting for us today.”

In a sector where trust, relationships and reputation carry enormous weight, that kind of focused exposure to decision-makers, partners and peers is difficult to replicate anywhere else. DPRTE brings the right people into the same room – and for exhibitors like Veolia, that translates into real, meaningful engagement with the defence community.

Getting to Grips with How Defence Works

Andrew Butler from PA Consulting offered a perspective that will resonate with any supplier navigating the complexities of working with the Ministry of Defence.

The MOD is not a straightforward customer. Its structures, processes and expectations can be difficult to understand from the outside – and building relationships across its broader supply chain adds another layer of complexity still. Andrew’s view was unambiguous: there are very few environments where suppliers can genuinely get to grips with all of that in a single day.

“An event like DPRTE really helps suppliers to understand how defence works and engage in a network not only with the Ministry of Defence but also with their broader supply chain,” he said, “and that’s really difficult to do outside of a face-to-face event like this.”

It’s a point that speaks to something fundamental about what DPRTE is built to do. Primes, SMEs, innovators and buyers – all under one roof, all accessible, all having the kind of open conversations that move the industry forward. That doesn’t happen by accident, and it’s increasingly rare in an era of webinars and virtual roundtables.

From Strategy to Delivery: The Commercial Transformation Knowledge Transfer Zone

One of the standout features of DPRTE 2026 was the Commercial Transformation Knowledge Transfer Zone, sponsored by Efficio – and David Hurst’s reflections on the experience spoke volumes about what the zone achieved.

Efficio brought together senior procurement, commercial and supply chain leaders at a moment of significant transformation across both defence and government. The zone provided a focused environment for exactly the kind of substantive, practical conversation the sector needs right now – cutting through the noise to address how commercial practices can be modernised, how capability can be built, and how long-term value can be driven across complex programmes.

David highlighted how the format enabled meaningful dialogue that went beyond the surface level, reinforcing a message that ran throughout the entire event: that the time for strategy alone has passed. The priority now is delivery – translating ambition into action across defence commercial and procurement transformation.

A Platform for a Critical Moment

The broader context of DPRTE 2026 cannot be ignored. With defence spending increasing, geopolitical pressures intensifying and operational demands growing, the urgency around procurement reform, supply chain resilience and capability delivery has never been sharper.

That urgency was felt throughout the event – and perhaps nowhere more powerfully than in the reflections of Rupert Pearce, the UK’s National Armaments Director, following his Day One keynote. His message was clear and direct: collaboration, delivery focus and ensuring that increased investment translates into genuine capability and value across the supply chain are not optional extras. They are the defining challenge for UK defence right now.

DPRTE, with headline sponsor GXO Logistics, provided the trusted, neutral platform for government, the Armed Forces, primes, SMEs and the wider supply chain to engage with that challenge together – openly, practically and with genuine intent.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

The level of engagement across DPRTE 2026 was outstanding. Keynote and workshop sessions were well attended throughout, exhibition spaces were consistently busy, and the quality of dialogue – across every zone, every conversation, every connection made – reinforced just how vital a role DPRTE plays in supporting better decision-making and a more connected defence ecosystem.

These weren’t just good conversations. They were the kind of conversations that shape strategy, unlock partnerships and build the foundations for better outcomes across UK defence.

What’s Next

The DPRTE event series doesn’t stop here. Later in the year, we have further events planned that will continue to deliver the insight, expertise and face-to-face connection the industry has come to rely on – with more details to be announced in due course.

First up is the inaugural Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit, taking place in Glasgow on 20 May. This landmark new event brings the DPRTE experience to Scotland for the first time, connecting the Scottish defence community with the procurement and supply chain expertise that has made DPRTE the sector’s go-to gathering.

If DPRTE 2026 has shown us anything, it’s that the conversations happening in this community matter – and that the people and organisations committed to driving real change in UK defence know exactly where to find each other.

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