The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce‘s (TVCC) Defence & Security Working Group delivered in partnership with Green Park, recently brought together senior leaders from industry, government and academia to discuss some of the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.
Hosted at Green Park’s Longwater venue in Reading, the event provided a platform for strategic discussion on strengthening SME engagement, addressing skills shortages and fostering greater collaboration across the defence and security ecosystem. The partnership between TVCC and Green Park reflects a shared commitment to supporting innovation, growth and connectivity within one of the UK’s most important industry sectors.
As strategic partners of the Defence & Security Working Group, Green Park and TVCC are committed to creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers and the wider business community. The event forms part of an ongoing programme designed to strengthen the Thames Valley’s position as a centre of excellence for defence, security and advanced technology.
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.
The Chamber would like to thank Green Park for its continued partnership and support in delivering the Defence & Security Working Group programme. Together, both organisations remain committed to convening influential conversations that support innovation, skills development and sustainable growth across the Thames Valley’s defence and security sector.
