From Sheffield to the Frontline: How UKDI Funding Turned a Start-up into a Global Defence Supplier
When a critical component fails on a naval vessel deployed far from home, the supply chain has two options: wait weeks for a part to be shipped, or pay a premium to a local machine shop. Either way, operational readiness suffers and costs escalate. It is exactly this kind of structural vulnerability that Rivelin Robotics, […]
UKI2S Grows to £150m as MoD, Space Agency and UKAEA Back Deep-Tech Supply Chain Investment
The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, has secured an additional £33.25m across three of its investment areas, taking total fund capacity to £150m. The Ministry of Defence has contributed £4m to the fund’s Defence thesis, the UK Space Agency £9.25m to its Space thesis, and the UK Atomic […]
MoD Shifts to Early Industry Engagement Model as Middle East Operations Drive Procurement Reform
The Ministry of Defence is embedding a new approach to industry engagement across its procurement activity, with lessons drawn from urgent operational support to the Middle East now being formalised into a standing model for how Defence works with suppliers. At the centre of the change is the Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) and a […]
Lords Committee Calls for Evidence on Defence Procurement Reform – Supply Chain Businesses Urged to Respond
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has launched a formal call for evidence on the relationship between government and the defence industry, with a submission deadline of 21 July 2026. This is a direct opportunity for supply chain businesses to put their experience on the parliamentary record. The inquiry follows the 2025 Strategic […]
Defence Demand Surges Across UK Innovation Economy But Procurement Delays Threaten to Stall Growth
New research from Barclays paints a clear picture of where the UK innovation economy is heading: towards defence. More than half of UK tech and innovation firms (57%) are now targeting defence and national security markets, with 62% actively adapting their products and services to meet sector requirements. Defence-focused businesses recorded a 13.1% increase in […]
FC BISA In Service Support Contract
The FC BISA ISS contract establishes a requirement to deliver comprehensive in-service support for the Army’s fire control systems (FC BISA, FCA, and BPD) through to their planned out-of-service date of 2035. This includes Contractor Logistic Support (CLS