Defence Engage hits major member milestone

Danielle Redwood, Director and Founder of Defence Engage, commented: “Defence Engage has gone from strength to strength this year and I am excited that we have reached this important milestone. Our members are using Defence Engage as it was set up to do, meeting potential suppliers and buyers, with SMEs benefiting from the engagement with Primes. We’re looking forward to continuing our success to the next milestone.”

Developed in consultation with top Defence Prime Contractors, including BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Thales, and Babcock, the networking site match-makes and connects buyers and suppliers. Small, specialist, and often non-traditional defence companies are able to connect with the larger manufacturers, based on their requirements and SME capabilities.

Defence Engage has hundreds of members connecting, showcasing their solutions, and finding new ways to enter the defence, aerospace, security, and space sectors. Providing networking opportunities, through webinars and events, members can meet and learn about companies with which they may wish to work.

OTM Servo Mechanism Limited, the designer and developer of Intelligent Actuator Solutions for the defence, aerospace, and oil sectors, has recently joined Defence Engage and has already benefited from its membership.

Dil Dhaliwal, Technical Sales Manager, said: “As an SME it can be a challenge to find an 'in' with industry contacts which is why, as a member of Defence Engage, we are delighted to see real tangible value already. Already we have been nominated by Defence Engage and then selected by the MOD to take part in a speed dating event at DSEI.”

As well as connecting members, Defence Engage provides analysis and thought leadership on key trends in the Defence industry. This well-respected knowledge bank allows members to find all the information they need in one place. It is supported by regular updates from Defence Engage members on new products, technologies, and contract wins.

At DSEI, Defence Engage has completed some bespoke matchmaking to create a series of SME speed networking in-person events for the Future Capability Group (FCG), DE&S, UK MOD.

James Gavin, Head of FCG, DE&S, commented: “Modern innovation is about networking.”

More MOD and Defence Engage hosted events are planned for the autumn.

General (Ret.) Sir Chris Deverell, KCB, MBE, Founder of Deverell Innovation Ventures, and former founder of jHub, commented: “Defence Engage is a really good idea. I often felt blind in terms of how to find an SME capable of meeting the requirement or opportunity that I could see. And I also felt that at times the Primes were no better than I was. So, I do believe that platforms that would allow you to share information about your capability or information about finding opportunities are really important and need to be encouraged.

Defence Engage will be attending DSEI 2023, which takes place at Excel in London from 12-15 September 2023, stand no. H4 166.  It is also sponsoring the DisTec trails at DSEI.