Region’s first dedicated procurement forum opens as £86bn defence investment confirmed and new cluster body launches
West Midlands businesses are being urged to break into the UK’s fastest-growing sector as the Government moves to increase defence spending with small and medium-sized enterprises by 50% before 2028.
The call comes ahead of the Defence Procurement Conference 2026, which takes place on June 11 and 12 at Millennium Point in Birmingham. The event follows media reports this week confirming £86 billion of planned investment in science, technology and defence by 2030.
Prime Minister Starmer is under pressure to publish the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan before the Nato summit on July 7, with Defence Minister John Healey confirming the Government’s intention to meet that deadline despite months of internal budget disputes. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton has warned the UK is running out of time to modernise its armed forces, pointing to a reported £28 billion funding shortfall.
New cluster body to connect region’s businesses with MoD
The conference coincides with the launch of the West Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (WM RDSC), a new body whose partners include the West Midlands Combined Authority, the University of Warwick, Aston University, Babcock, Horiba MIRA and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
Smaller suppliers currently account for around £4.5 billion of annual Ministry of Defence spending. Ministers have pledged to raise that figure to £7.5 billion in the coming years, with procurement reform reshaping how contracts are awarded.
The free-to-attend conference will feature more than 50 speakers across six panels, with over 2,000 delegates expected. It is designed to offer direct routes into the defence procurement ecosystem for manufacturers, engineering firms, cybersecurity specialists and professional services businesses across the region.
Dr Richard Fallon, organiser of the conference, said: “For West Midlands businesses, whether in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, 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.”
Al Carns, Minister for the Armed Forces and MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said the event would “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.”
