Manufacturers across the West Midlands are increasingly looking to break into the defence and security sector, as the region joins forces with the East Midlands to claim a larger slice of an industry it believes has been underappreciated for years.

Twelve companies have already signed up to the Supply Chain Transition Programme, a scheme designed to help small and medium-sized manufacturers within the West Midlands Investment Zone branch out into new growth sectors. A further eight firms are currently going through the process to check their eligibility.

The figures emerged at a Winning Defence Work briefing held by the Finditin Network at the Wednesbury headquarters of Orapi Maintenance UK.

The drive to diversify comes at a critical moment, with key suppliers to Jaguar Land Rover calling on ministers to support automotive firms in shifting toward defence and aerospace work. They have warned that large-scale car manufacturing in Britain is set for a long-term downturn, following JLR's confirmation that it intends to cut 4,000 jobs.

Charlie Hopkirk of the West Midlands Growth Company told attendees that both the West and East Midlands had significantly stepped up their focus on defence and security over the last 12 months. The Midlands as a whole is thought to support roughly 50,000 defence-related jobs — more than a tenth of the UK's total — spread across around 1,000 companies operating in or alongside the sector. "Defence is a sector we've always had in the region, but maybe we haven't talked about it or prioritised it as a critical part of our economy," Hopkirk said, adding that it is now central to the region's growth plans.

Paul Long, director of the Finditin Network, said entering the defence market required far more than technical know-how, with firms also needing a solid grasp of compliance rules and where they fit within supply chains.

The Supply Chain Transition Programme is run through Supply Smarter West Midlands, led by C&W Business Solutions in partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, WMG at the University of Warwick, the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University and Birmingham City University. Participating businesses receive tailored support and can access grants ranging from £20,000 to £200,000 from a £6 million pot available until 2029.

Andy Davis, who leads the programme, said about 20 SMEs had expressed interest in the defence pathway, with 12 already approved and onboarded. Among them is Orapi Maintenance UK, which produces industrial maintenance and dust-control products. Managing director David East said the company already serves more than 50 defence clients via distributors and has now hired someone dedicated to pursuing direct defence contracts. "It's a high-entry, high-exit sector and it takes time, but if you can hold your nerve and get in, it's very well worth it," he said.

Source: TheBusinessDesk.com

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