SMEs seen as central to supply chain resilience, as Minister signals refreshed Action Plan.

The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) SME Action Plan will be updated following the release of the Defence Industrial Strategy.

Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement at the MoD, announced the refresh in response to a parliamentary question on 7 January.

The upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, being developed in parallel to the Defence Strategic Review, “will prompt a refresh of our SME [small and medium-sized enterprise] Action Plan”, she stated. The two major strategic documents are expected to be released in Spring of this year.

Eagle reiterated the MoD’s “long-standing commitment to improve [its] engagement with small and medium enterprises” as crucial partners “to broaden and strengthen” its supply-base.

The comments were in response to an enquiry from the Conservative representative for South Shropshire, Stuart Anderson MP, who had asked about the steps the department was taking to increase the sustainability of its supply chains.

Along with the updated SME Action Plan, Eagle announced the government’s plans to launch a “first-of-its-kind wargame to explore how industry and the MoD could sustain personnel on the frontline when faced with constant supply chain disruption”.

The department is also attempting to secure access to critical materials, components and technologies, she added.