Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council announced ahead of Defence Procurement Conference on June 11 and 12
Two Midlands mayors have appointed 16 senior defence industry leaders to a new body designed to attract investment and create high-quality jobs across the region, as the government prepares to increase national security spending.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, have established the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council, bringing together major regional employers and several SMEs to champion the area’s defence and security industries.
Babcock chief to lead council
Chris Spicer, managing director of Engineering and Systems Integration at Babcock International, which employs more than 300 people in Walsall, will serve as industry chair. He said: “This collaborative venture, underpinned by the recently launched Defence and Security Blueprint for the Midlands, is excellent news for the region. It not only supports the Government’s wider Defence Industrial Strategy, but also reinforces Babcock’s ongoing commitment to creating employment opportunities and driving growth across the area.”
The council’s first meeting will take place later this month.
A region with room to grow
The Midlands is already home to around 1,000 companies in defence or related sectors, employing 50,000 people. Parker said the region was “only scratching the surface” of its economic potential, adding that the council had been given a clear objective to “champion our industrial and innovative strengths to make sure we’re the big winner from increased government spending.”
Ward said the council would ensure “well-paid jobs for local people whilst opening up new opportunities for graduates and apprentices.”
The blueprint also sets out plans to upskill workers, support SMEs in winning government contracts, and develop new career pathways.
Defence Procurement Conference 2026 – the first WM forum exclusively dedicated to the UK’s defence supply chain
The creation of the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council comes ahead of the Defence Procurement Conference 2026, the first dedicated West Midlands forum focused exclusively on UK defence supply chain access and procurement strategy.
Taking place on June 11 to 12, 2026, the conference, which is being organised by the One Thousand Trades Group, is bringing together SMEs, defence manufacturers, commissioners and government representatives to build meaningful commercial pathways into defence contracts to:
- Connect SMEs directly with defence manufacturers and procurement leads
- Provide insight into MOD supply chain requirements
- Clarify bidding processes and compliance expectations
- Offer high-level policy briefings and practical procurement workshops
- Create structured networking between commissioners and suppliers.
Smaller suppliers already account for £4.5 billion of MoD spend, and the Government has pledged to increase defence spending with SMEs by 50% by 2028. Procurement reform, sovereign capability priorities and national resilience objectives are reshaping how contracts are awarded and delivered.
Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain, which is supporting the Defence Procurement Conference, said: “We’re breaking down barriers and opening new avenues for innovation. We are ensuring that our SMEs can play a vital role in strengthening our defence capabilities.”
