Voices from #SDS26: @DefenceHQ's Calum Taylor on the new Defence Growth Deals - £250m to back regional economies, infrastructure and SMEs. Watch the clip →
🎬 The full #SDS26 highlights reel is live - two minutes of speakers, panels and connections from Scotland's defence community. Thank you all.
Keep up-to-date with all the highlights and briefings at https://t.co/nMlPHn5mY9
That's a wrap on #SDS26. Huge thanks to our Headline Partner @ADSgroupUK, Headline Sponsor @DCI_Tweets, every sponsor, speaker, exhibitor and delegate. Highlights reel + 'Voices from #SDS26' interview series to follow. See you in 2027. 🏴 #DPRTE#SDS26#ThankYou#DefenceCommunity
Type 26 deep dive at #SDS26 — Stuart Justice (BAE Systems) on procurement timelines, supplier standards and Scottish suppliers already onboarded. Required listening for naval supply chain.
Powerful panel just wrapped at hashtag#SDS26 on defence as an engine for Scottish prosperity - maritime and sensor programmes, the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, SME participation, supply chain localisation and regional economic development.
Thanks to our panellists:
• Emma Baker, ADS Group
• Calum Taylor, MOD
• Rhona Allison, Scottish Enterprise
• Stewart Macpherson UK
• Brigadier Andrew Muddiman, Royal Navy
• Mark Stead
Stay connected via the DPRTE Community:
All key event updates, speaker insights and post-event content will be shared via the DPRTE Community. If you have not already registered, we strongly encourage you to do so to access:
➤ Live updates and announcements
➤ Speaker presentations and exclusive content
➤ Post event speaker interviews
➤ Ongoing opportunities across the defence procurement community
Register for free here: https://t.co/BSB3Qh8QK4
🎥 Opening Keynote at #SDS26: @DAlexanderMP, Secretary of State for Scotland, on Scotland's role in UK national security - naval, subs, radar, space and digital.
Today's the day! #SDS26 opens its doors in a few hours - keynotes, panels and 1-2-1s with MOD, primes and SMEs shaping the future of Scottish defence. See you there.
See you tomorrow at the DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026.
Tomorrow, defence buyers, prime contractors, SMEs, innovators and policy leaders will come together in Glasgow for a focused day of strategic discussion and supply chain engagement.
With new investment flowing into Scotland's defence sector and procurement activity accelerating across the UK, the timing for Scottish businesses to engage with the market has never been stronger.
Expect:
• Senior insights from government and defence leaders
• Direct guidance from prime contractors on supplier opportunities
• Practical advice on SME engagement and JOSCAR
• Discussion on emerging technologies including AI, cyber and space
• One-to-one Meet the Buyer sessions with major organisations
Whether you are already operating in defence or exploring the sector for the first time, tomorrow's summit offers direct access to the people, programmes and opportunities shaping the market.
Glasgow Marriott Hotel
20 May 2026
Safe travels to everyone attending. We look forward to an excellent day of discussion and collaboration.
#DPRTESDS #Defence #DefenceSupplyChain #Scotland
Two days to go until the DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026 at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel.
At a time of rising UK defence investment and major long-term programmes across Scotland, this summit brings together the organisations shaping the future of the defence supply chain.
From the Type 26 frigate programme and Clyde Transformation Programme to emerging opportunities in cyber, AI, maritime, space and advanced manufacturing, the agenda is focused on what Scottish industry needs to know now.
You will hear directly from:
• UK Ministry of Defence of Defence representatives
• UK Defence Innovation
• ADS Group Ltd Scotland
• Prime contractors including BAE Systems, Babcock International Group, Leonardo and Thales
• Scottish Enterprise and industry leaders driving regional growth
The programme is built around practical commercial insight, supplier engagement and direct access to decision-makers through dedicated Meet the Buyer sessions.
If your organisation is looking to enter, strengthen or expand within the defence market, this is where the conversations start.
20 May 2026
Glasgow Marriott Hotel
We look forward to welcoming delegates from across the Scottish defence community.
#DPRTESDS #Defence #defencesupplychain #Scotland
Last few days to book for #DPRTESDS
The inaugaral Scottish Defence Summit is an exciting chance for you to be part of this growing market.
Confirmed speakers include keynote contributions from Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and Gareth Hedicker, Chief Operating Officer, Babcock - Marine sector, alongside senior buyers, policy leads and industry leaders.
The summit will explore:
• Defence procurement priorities and future programmes
• How Scottish industry can win and deliver defence contracts
• Supply chain resilience, capability and collaboration
• The role of industry, innovation and skills in supporting defence outcomes
Book your place now: https://t.co/14RHjcc7Lk
#defence #defencesupplychain #Scotland
Last Chance to book!
Don't miss out on the inaugaral Scottish Defence Summit from hashtag#DPRTE
One of the standout features of this first-time event will be the opportunity for suppliers to engage directly with leading defence prime contractors through our Meet the Buyer sessions.
Designed to create meaningful, commercially focused conversations, this feature enables SMEs to connect with major buying organisations actively shaping the future of defence procurement.
By attending, you will be able to:
• Connect directly with key prime contractors across the defence sector
• Gain insight into current and future supply chain requirements
• Position your organisation for upcoming opportunities aligned to increased defence investment
• Build relationships that support long term growth within the defence supply chain
This is a unique opportunity to move beyond general networking and have focused discussions with organisations that are actively seeking innovative and capable suppliers.
As the UK continues to strengthen its defence capability and industrial base, ensuring SMEs are integrated into the supply chain has never been more important.
Do not miss your chance to be part of it. Book your place today - https://t.co/Fe4gFeIlbQ
hashtag#defence hashtag#defencesupplychain hashtag#SME
Just Five days to go to #DPRTESDS
With £50 million in new defence investment committed to Scotland and UK defence spending rising at its fastest rate since the Cold War, Scottish industry is facing one of the most significant commercial opportunities in a generation. The DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026, taking place 20th May at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel, can you afford to miss it?
#defence #defencesupplychain #Scotland #DPRTE
The UK's £50 billion defence investment commitment is creating real, tangible opportunity across Scotland - but what does that actually mean for industry, and how do Scottish businesses position themselves to benefit?
That's the focus of our opening panel session at the DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026, taking place at the Glasgow Marriott on Wednesday 20 May - https://t.co/RJynYlvj4t
Economic Growth: Defence as an Engine for Scottish Prosperity will bring together senior voices from government, industry and defence to explore how increasing investment is translating into supply chain demand across maritime, shipbuilding, advanced engineering, the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and Scotland's growing R&D base.
Confirmed speakers include:
Emma Baker Policy Adviser, ADS Group Ltd
Calum Taylor, Deputy Head of Growth and Place, MOD
Rhona Allison, Managing Director, Productivity and Business Growth, Scottish Enterprise
Stewart Macpherson, Head of Digital Strategy, Thales Defence
Brigadier Andrew Muddiman ADC RM, Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland, Royal Navy
Mark Stead, Senior Vice President, Radar & Advanced Targeting, Leonardo
The discussion will examine SME participation, supply chain localisation, export potential and regional economic development - setting the strategic context for everything that follows across the day.
For suppliers looking to understand where opportunity is emerging and how to engage effectively, this session is the essential starting point.
Register now and secure your place: https://t.co/RJynYlvj4t
#ScottishDefence #DefenceProcurement #SupplyChain #DPRTE #DPRTESDS
With just one week to go to the DPRTE Scottish Defence Summit, we shine the spotlight on our panel debates.
One of the day's most practical sessions will give Scottish SMEs direct access to that knowledge - https://t.co/Fe4gFeIlbQ
Getting into a prime contractor's supply chain isn't straightforward - but it is achievable with the right preparation, the right accreditations and a clear understanding of what primes are actually looking for.
Prime Contractors: Opening Doors for Scottish SMEs will take place on Wednesday 20 May at the Glasgow Marriott, and will feature prime contractors and industry leaders outlining exactly how SMEs can enter and succeed within major defence supply chains.
Confirmed speakers include:
Coreen McCubbin, Chief Technology Officer, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
Gareth Hedicker, Chief Operating Officer, Babcock - Marine sector
Didde B. Bjerglund-Martin, Head of JOSCAR, Hellios Information
Andrew Cowie Group Yan Tiefenbrun, Managing Director, Castle Precision
Topics will cover onboarding pathways, accreditation requirements including JOSCAR, security and quality standards, and real-world examples of Scottish SMEs winning work on major defence platforms.
Whether you're new to defence or looking to grow your footprint, this session delivers the practical guidance needed to move forward with confidence.
Places are filling. Register today: https://t.co/Fe4gFeIlbQ
#DefenceSME #SupplyChain #ScottishDefence #DPRTESDS #JOSCAR
Just over 2 weeks to go until the inaugural DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit - https://t.co/V9ROO6z6j4
This month marks the first ever Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit, bringing government, industry and the defence supply chain together in Glasgow to help shape Scotland’s role in the UK’s defence future.
We are pleased to welcome a wide range of senior leaders including:
• Chris Courtney, Chief Executive Officer, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
• Rhona Allison, Managing Director of Productivity and Business Growth, Scottish Enterprise
They will share practical insight into strengthening industrial capability, improving productivity and supporting sustainable growth across Scotland’s defence supply chain.
Final registrations are now being taken
https://t.co/RJynYlvj4t
Just 2 weeks to go to the Scottish Defence Summit!
With just 2 weeks to go, now is the time to secure your place at the inaugural DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit taking place in Glasgow on Wednesday 20th May - https://t.co/RJynYluLeV
One of the standout features of this first-time event is the opportunity for suppliers to engage directly with leading defence prime contractors through our Meet the Buyer sessions.
Designed to create meaningful, commercially focused conversations, this feature enables SMEs to connect with major buying organisations actively shaping the future of defence procurement.
This is a unique opportunity to move beyond general networking and have focused discussions with organisations that are actively seeking innovative and capable suppliers.
As the UK continues to strengthen its defence capability and industrial base, ensuring SMEs are integrated into the supply chain has never been more important.
Do not miss your chance to be part of it. Book your place today https://t.co/RJynYluLeV