Representatives from across the defence and security sector gathered in Reading for the latest Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) Defence & Security Working Group, bringing together industry leaders, SMEs, education providers and government stakeholders to discuss key opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Held at Green Park Conference Centre, the roundtable focused on strengthening collaboration between industry and government, supporting SME engagement, and exploring opportunities within both domestic and international defence markets.
The session was chaired by Juliette Wilcox CMG, President of Ultra Cyber Ltd, alongside David Saab, Business Alliance Manager, TVCC.
A key theme throughout the discussion was the role of SMEs within the UK defence supply chain and how businesses can better engage with Ministry of Defence commercial and export opportunities.
Attendees heard from Jacob Cooney, SME Engagement Project Manager at National Armaments International – MOD, who provided an overview of how the MOD supports UK defence exports. His presentation explored routes to market, international opportunities, and how SMEs can better position themselves to engage with export programmes and overseas partnerships.
The roundtable also welcomed Catherine Proudlove, SME Lead at the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, alongside Andy Webling, who shared a domestic commercial perspective on how the MOD works with industry across the UK supply chain. Discussions focused on supplier access, commercial frameworks and strengthening collaboration between government and SMEs.
Alongside keynote presentations, attendees took part in a facilitated roundtable discussion examining current industry priorities, barriers to growth, and opportunities for greater regional collaboration across the defence and security ecosystem.
The meeting also included updates on local skills and workforce initiatives, including the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), as well as wider quarterly industrial feedback activity designed to support employer engagement and long-term sector growth.
