JOSCAR Live 2026: Defence leaders call for greater SME support to boost UK readiness

Industry leaders have called for greater collaboration, improved procurement access and stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting the vital contribution of British business to the UK’s defence capability at JOSCAR Live 2026.

More than 400 representatives from across the UK defence supply chain gathered at JOSCAR Live 2026 to discuss how closer and better collaboration between government, major contractors and smaller suppliers can strengthen national defence readiness.

Organised by the UK-based supplier data management specialist Hellios, the conference brought together representatives from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), major defence and aerospace organisations, financial institutions and SMEs. Now in its fourth year, the event provided a platform for industry leaders to examine the challenges facing increasingly complex and interconnected supply chains.

A central message was that the UK’s ability to respond to evolving geopolitical threats depends not only on the capabilities of major defence contractors, but also on the specialist expertise, innovation and agility of smaller British businesses.

Small businesses have a big impact on the UK’s defence readiness

Keynote speakers included AVM Ange Baker, Director, Joint Support at the UK MOD’s National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, and Lord Gavin Barwell, founder of NorthStar Advisory and former Downing Street Chief of Staff.

Addressing the conference, AVM Baker emphasised the importance of recognising the contribution of businesses throughout the defence supply chain. “From rocks to rockets, our defence readiness depends on the strength and resilience of the entire defence supply chain,” she said.

Baker added that SMEs had an increasingly important role to play through their specialist skills, innovation and agility, stressing that collaboration across the sector would be essential to building the capacity and robustness needed to respond to an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Discussions also highlighted the need for greater transparency between buyers and suppliers, clearer visibility of future requirements and improved access to procurement decision-makers. These measures could help smaller businesses identify opportunities, invest with greater confidence and develop new and enduring partnerships.

Dillon Padraig Harman, Chief Operations Officer at Needles & Pins Aerospace, said that rising geopolitical tensions had brought the importance of SMEs into sharp focus. He described smaller businesses as “the backbone of Britain”, pointing to their role in driving innovation, developing future talent and providing specialist capabilities required by the defence industry.

“By working closely with industry, education providers and government, we can help develop the skills and services needed to support future defence capability and long-term economic growth,” he added.

Breaking down barriers to unlock the potential of British SMEs

The event also explored how the sector can make it easier for SMEs to participate in defence procurement. Compliance, supplier assurance and reducing barriers to engagement were identified as important elements of building a more accessible and resilient supply chain.

The Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR) supports this objective by providing a centralised compliance and pre-qualification system connecting major contractors with thousands of defence suppliers. This approach helps buyers improve supply chain visibility, manage third-party risks and reduce duplicated assurance processes.

The event also celebrated SME innovation through the JOSCAR SME Innovation Award, supported by BAE Systems, recognising the contribution of smaller businesses across the defence and aerospace community.

Colin Maund, CEO of Hellios, said the strength of the UK’s defence sector depended on the capability of the supply chain supporting it. He described JOSCAR Live as an opportunity to share knowledge and create an environment in which UK SMEs could flourish, while acknowledging that further work was needed to improve efficiency across the industry.

“A stronger supply chain community will help support a more agile defence sector that is better prepared and better placed to face the challenges of tomorrow,” he added.

With the next JOSCAR Live conference planned for 2027, the message from this year’s gathering was clear: strengthening the UK’s defence readiness requires an inclusive, connected supply chain in which businesses of every size can contribute effectively.