As the Government increases defence spending with SMEs by 50% between now and 2028, West Midlands businesses are being urged to seize the opportunity to break into the UK's key growth sector.
The Defence Procurement Conference 2026 this Thursday and Friday (June 11 and 12) at Millennium Point in Birmingham, follows media reports this week confirming £86 billion of investment in science, technology and defence by 2030.
Al Carns MP, Minister for the Armed Forces and MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said: “Strengthening our national security goes hand in hand with strengthening British industry. The Defence Procurement Conference 2026 is a vital step in opening up real opportunities for SMEs across the West Midlands and beyond to play a greater role in our defence supply chains.”
In the lead-up to the event this week, Defence Minister John Healey said Prime Minister Starmer is determined to publish the Government’s long-delayed ‘Defence Investment Plan,’ which has faced months of internal budget disputes, before the NATO summit on July 7.
Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton warned this week that the UK is running out of time to modernise its armed forces, citing a reported £28 billion funding shortfall.
The Defence Procurement Conference comes after the launch this month of the West Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (WM RDSC).
The new body’s partners include the West Midlands Combined Authority, University of Warwick, Aston University, Babcock, Horiba MIRA and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).
Its objectives mirror those of the free-to-attend Defence Procurement Conference, the West Midlands' inaugural dedicated forum for connecting SMEs, including manufacturers, with key figures in the MoD (Ministry of Defence) and its wider supply chain network
With more than 50 speakers across six panels and more than 2,000 delegates booked to attend, the event offers practical, direct routes into the UK defence procurement ecosystem.
Smaller suppliers already account for around £4.5 billion of annual MoD spend, and procurement reform is reshaping how contracts are awarded. Ministers have pledged to raise that figure to £7.5 billion in the coming years.
Dr Richard Fallon, organiser of the Defence Procurement Conference, said: “For West Midlands businesses, whether in advanced manufacturing, cyber security, engineering, autonomy or professional services, the window to enter the supply chain is open.
“If you are an SME wanting to break into the defence sector, the smart move is to come and see what’s happening on June 11 and 12 and see the vast array of opportunities on offer in the UK’s key growth sector.”
Carns added: "With increased investment and a clear commitment from the Government to expand SME participation, this conference will help demystify the procurement process, connect businesses with key decision-makers, and ensure more companies are equipped to contribute to the UK's resilience and sovereign capability.
"I strongly support this initiative and encourage businesses to take advantage of the practical guidance, insight and connections it offers."
