DVD2026 launches SME Zone

Above: General Sir Roland Walker, Chief of the General Staff (CGS).
Courtesy DVD /UTAC Millbrook

The newly launched SME Zone will provide a direct opportunity for UK innovators and small emerging suppliers to put their concepts in front of Army Headquarters and the wider defence sector within Land Enterprise.

Sponsored by the National Armaments Director Group (NADG) and Army Headquarters, DVD2026 will take place at UTAC Millbrook on 16th and 17th September 2026, with defence industry, delivery teams and users of land equipment meeting for two days of collaboration, innovation and demonstrations.

This new opportunity opens the door to small and independent UK suppliers who would otherwise not have the opportunity to exhibit or attend DVD2026. Defence industry SMEs will also benefit from access to advice from the newly established Defence Office for Small Business Growth.



Valuable insights into how SMEs can engage commercially will help to break down barriers for smaller businesses and ensure the UK’s most agile innovators have a clear pathway to take their concepts from the exhibition floor to the frontline.



Showing his support for the new SME Zone at DVD2026 and encouraging small businesses to register, Luke Pollard MP, Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry said: "For too long, complex procurement processes have blocked some of Britain’s brightest businesses from supporting our Armed Forces.

"The new SME Zone at DVD2026 is an important step in breaking down these barriers. Creating direct access for smaller suppliers to engage with the land sector will strengthen our defence capabilities and at the same time fuel economic growth across the UK. This supports our pledge to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.”

Discussing the importance of the new SME Zone to the Army and wider Defence industry, Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton, Deputy Chief of the General Staff explained: "To maintain a competitive edge on the modern battlefield, the British Army must be able to integrate new technologies quickly. The SME Hub at DVD2026 is critical to this mission; it allows us to find and fast-track the latest solutions that often emerge from small, agile UK innovators. We want to see the big ideas – the sensors, software and systems that can enhance our land equipment and protect our soldiers. By opening the door to these new partners, we’re ensuring the Land Enterprise remains lethal, resilient and ready for the challenges of tomorrow." 

The DVD2026 SME Zone is specifically designed for UK-based start-ups, spin-outs and growing businesses with fewer than 250 employees with products, services or tech that is relevant to the land domain, particularly those currently outside the traditional defence supply chain. This is a dedicated gateway for non-traditional suppliers to present directly to the Land Enterprise.