Canadian companies and the UK defence market

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) spends over £16 billion ($31 billion CDN) annually on a wide range of products and services. A diversity of major land, sea and air projects are currently under development offering significant prospects for Canadian companies. The UK defence market is open to international procurement competition and is a major purchaser of Canadian technology systems and support services.

Emerging opportunities

While the acquisition of platforms has traditionally dominated the defence business, the increasing emphasis on through-life support presents another significant area of opportunity. The MOD are looking to obtain maximum life from investment in defence assets, so upgrades and innovative technologies that enhance performance or reduce cycle times are increasingly in demand.

The current demands of expeditionary warfare have also brought through-life support to the forefront of procurement thinking. This is not just an opportunity for international prime contractors; the role of suppliers of niche technologies and services is crucial.

How UK defence procurement works

Competitive bids for defence programmes are sought and assessed by Integrated Project Teams (IPTs). MOD IPTs place over 27,000 contracts annually in order to satisfy the requirements of the UK Armed Forces worldwide operations.

The MOD uses a streamlined version of its procurement procedures to support operations by purchasing equipment quickly. Known as Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs), these procurement initiatives can create valuable opportunities for Canadian suppliers that can meet the demand.

How Jeffrey Strategic can help your company

Jeffrey Strategic helps clients develop innovative solutions in support of UK MOD operational and acquisition requirements. We offer expert advice and complete business development solutions to help Canadian companies identify European defence and aerospace procurement opportunities, develop competitive bid capture strategy, and manage successful proposal initiatives. To find out more, contact Jeffrey Strategic.