About the Summit

The DPRTE UK National Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026 is a high-level, one-day event designed for organisations operating in, or seeking to grow within, the UK defence market.

Set against a backdrop of increased defence spending, procurement reform and a clear government focus on strengthening the supply chain, the summit provides practical insight into how policy, investment and strategy translate into real commercial opportunity.

Purpose

This summit has been created to help organisations move beyond high-level understanding and focus on where the opportunities are, how the system is evolving, and how to successfully access and win within the defence supply chain.

It brings together senior stakeholders from government, primes, mid-tier organisations and the wider supplier base to explore:

How defence investment is converting into pipeline and contract opportunities

What procurement reform means for commercial strategy, margins and risk

How organisations can position effectively within an evolving supply chain model

Where new routes to market are emerging, particularly for SMEs

Growth, Accessibility and Commercial Clarity

Increased defence spending and how this is shaping future contracting activity

Greater SME participation, with government and industry actively seeking to widen and diversify the supply chain

The role of mid-tier organisations as a more accessible entry point into defence

The importance of regional clusters and growth ecosystems in enabling supplier access

Expanding export opportunities across NATO, Europe and the Indo-Pacific