Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 70
70
Accepted in Part
The Ministry of Defence should, in line with its commitments in the National Shipbuilding Strategy...
Recommendation
The Ministry of Defence should, in line with its commitments in the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the UK Government’s commitments in Maritime 2050, work specifically to develop shipbuilding clusters in Scotland. In responding to this report, the UK Government should update us on what it has already done to support the growth of the Scottish Maritime Cluster as was promised in the Maritime 2050 strategy in 2019. To support the growth of these clusters the MOD needs to address barriers to Scottish SMEs working with the Ministry.
Government Response Summary
The MOD refers to its existing SME Action Plan and digital outreach to support SMEs, and mentions the Department for Transport's lead role in the Regional Maritime Cluster Development Programme.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The MOD published the SME Action Plan in 2022 which outlines the commitments being made to increasing and supporting opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It recognises that SMEs are at the heart of the vibrant and flexible UK defence industry, supporting a wide variety of high-quality jobs across the UK. The SME Action Plan, sets out how the MOD will further improve the engagement the MOD have with SMEs, focusing on procurement models that are easier to navigate, a recognition of the role the MOD and its major suppliers play in supporting the whole of the defence supply chain, and understanding how best to support innovation and exports for UK suppliers. The MOD also supports the Defence Suppliers Portal which offers SMEs access to view contracting opportunities as both prime contractors and sub-contractors. With the Defence Suppliers Forum SME forum, a number of SMEs and trade bodies collaborate to best inform the MOD how to support SMEs within this area. Through this forum, SME champions have been established within the range of Strategic Suppliers to encourage contracting with SMEs. As part of the overall engagement strategy, the MOD have found digital outreach (including targeted webinars) an effective platform to reach smaller business. Recent outreach activity includes presentations delivered for the Scottish Supplier Development Programme (SDP) at their virtual “Meet the buyer” events. SDP are also part of our trade association network who receive our industry communications for wider dissemination to their membership. With these initiatives, alongside the target to achieve 25% of Defence spend with SMEs to be met this year, the MOD are making in-roads into making it easier for SMEs to do business with Defence. The Department for Transport is the lead Government Department for the Regional Maritime Cluster Development Programme, including the Scottish Maritime Cluster, and they are committed to working together to delivering their shared ambitions.