Opening defence to SMEs: Office for Small Business Growth introduction

This session will introduce the Ministry of Defence’s new Office for Small Business Growth and outline what recent changes mean in practice for industry. Following commitments set out in the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy, the session will explore how Defence is opening up to smaller businesses. Attendees will gain insight into new approaches to contracting, including SME Commercial Pathways and the SME Action Plan, and what these mean for engagement with the MOD.

Key takeaways

• Understand the role of the Office for Small Business Growth

• Gain clarity on changes to defence contracting for SMEs

• Learn about SME Commercial Pathways and how they will operate

• Understand the SME Action Plan and its role in meeting spend targets

Front and centre of the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy was the acknowledgement that, for the sake of innovation, the Ministry of Defence must do more to open Defence up to smaller businesses.

Recognising the challenges small businesses face, both commercial and cultural, the MOD announced a number of steps to address this.

To brief members on what these steps mean in practice, this session will be joined by the leadership team from the Ministry of Defence’s new Office for Small Business Growth.

Alongside the creation of the Office, the team will explain the changes to contracting being introduced, including the new SME Commercial Pathways and the implementation of the SME Action Plan, the MOD’s route to meeting the SME spend target.