ADS are collaborating with the London Trade Roundtable and Capital Offset Services Ltd to organise a half-day seminar on Defence Trade Finance, Offset and Defence SME Funding, the day before the opening of the major, international DSEI 2025 exhibition.
This free to participate joint event is intended to explore the business opportunities that are available in this challenging time, both for the suppliers and also the trade finance sector.
This event will cover
- UK regulatory issues, such as the latest Strategic Defence Review 2025
- Potential implications of the UK’s new Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025
- Potential opportunities that might arise from the proposed new “Industrial Participation Policy” that is being discussed as part of the new Defence Industrial Strategy
- The wider subject of Trade Finance and Defence SME Funding.
Background
One of the major inhibitors that is perceived by a number of British and European defence and security companies in general, and by small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, is accesses to adequate trade finance support, with many suppliers to such essential assistance perceived to have “issues” (quite often related to ESG – or Environmental, Social and Governance – related concerns) involving supporting these sectors. Many defence and security companies have come to regard these issues as representing an existential threat to them. Yet, at the same time, the essential need for European governments to raise their defence and security spending to enhance their capabilities to ensure that their national security requirements have not been higher since the end of the “Cold War” some 35 years’ ago.
Agenda
- 13:30 - Registration and networking tea/coffee
- 14:00 - Welcoming comments - John MacNamara (CEO, Carshalton Commodities Ltd, and Chair of the London Trade Roundtable)
- 14:05 - Welcome from the host
- 14:10 - Overview on the UK MOD’s Defence Industrial Strategy and the Procurement Act 2023 - Emma Baker (Defence Policy Advisor, ADS Group) and Charlotte Davies (Head of Defence Commercial, ADS Group) and Andrew Dean(Partner, Bird & Bird)
- 14:40 - Open forum Q&A
- 14:50 - Possible new UK Industrial Participation Policy session - Joe Royce (Defence Industrial Strategy, Industrial Strategy and Policy Advisor, UK Ministry of Defence) TBC and Stephen Lewis (UK Partner, Constructive Edge Inc)
- 15:20 - Panel discussion session
- 15:40 - Networking break
- 16:00 Trade finance and defence SME funding - Aimie Stone (Chief Economist, ADS Group), Akim Kibalnik (Executive Director, Head of Structured Trade Finance Solutions, EMEA at BBVA and Board Member of the London Trade Roundtable)
- 16:20 - Panel discussion session
- 16:50 - Closing comments - Chair for the event
- 16:55 - Networking reception
