Derbyshire Defence Roundtable: MPs Listen, Industry Speaks, Momentum Builds

Hosted by Belcan Engineering at the RTC Business Park, the session was constructive, focused and—most importantly—genuinely receptive. Both MPs made it clear from the outset that they wanted to hear directly from suppliers about what’s working, what isn’t, and which changes would make a real, measurable difference on the ground.

A positive, practical conversation

After opening remarks, the discussion moved quickly to industry reactions to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). Attendees welcomed the strategic direction and the emphasis on resilience, pace and sovereign capability—while asking for clear pathways that translate policy into predictable demand and faster programme mobilisation.

The second half zeroed in on Derbyshire’s role as an “engine for growth.” With world-class primes, a deep tiered supply base, and university/FE links, the message was clear: Derby and Derbyshire are well-placed to deliver capability at speed—provided we tackle avoidable friction for SMEs and mid-caps.

What suppliers said would make a real difference

1) Faster, fairer routes to contract

2) De-risked investment in skills and capacity

3) Accelerating innovation to the front line

Standout themes

• Pace: A shared commitment to reduce procurement cycle times without compromising assurance.
• Sovereignty: Strengthening UK design, test and manufacture—especially in critical sub-systems and spares.
• Resilience: Diversified, regionally balanced supply chains to withstand shocks and surge when required.
• People: Apprenticeships and upskilling as the lifeblood of a sustainable defence industrial base.

Why this matters for Derbyshire

Derbyshire’s defence ecosystem—spanning aerospace, land systems, energy and complex manufacturing—already exports excellence. With targeted improvements to contracting, skills and innovation pathways, our region can deliver more capability, more quickly, and capture greater value locally. That means high-quality jobs, stronger apprenticeships and faster delivery of critical programmes.

Thank you

Our thanks to Belcan Engineering for hosting (and to Stephen and Nicola for the smooth logistics), to Make UK Defence for convening the conversation, and to Event Manager Samantha Hill for coordination. Most of all, thank you to Catherine Atkinson MP and Baggy Shanker MP for leaning in, asking the right questions, and committing to take supplier feedback forward.

 

 

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