Top Public Sector Suppliers in Defence

When people think about the UK defence industry, they think of weapons, big military vehicles, and tents dripping with rain (every war movie ever made). However, government defence isn’t all about weapons. In fact, it hardly includes weapons at all. Instead, it has to do with the creation, development, and innovation of equipment and all services required to support the defence sector’s functioning.  

This means that the UK defence industry has a wide range of suppliers with different specialisations.

We’re going to look at ten of the top defence sector suppliers in the United Kingdom.

10 Suppliers in The Public Sector Defence Market

In no particular order, the biggest defence companies in the UK – and their services – include:

Sodexo: Activities of head offices

Sodexo strives to provide highly personalised services through a thorough understanding of the relevant defence departments. Much of this has to do with their philosophy of support for individuals, communities, and the environment on the base. This includes the physical and mental well-being of personnel in the following UK armed forces:

• British Navy
• Royal Navy
• Royal Air Force

Carwood Motor Units Limited: a) Manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles and their engines; b) Manufacture of other parts and accessories for motor vehicles in the armed forces.

Carwood has an international reputation for its specialised parts and services used throughout the UK defence industry. For example, Diesel Fuel Injection Equipment (DFIE) and Turbochargers, Engines, and Hydraulic Assemblies.

It’s also known for its restoration and re-commissioning of equipment. For example, fuel delivery pumps and generators.

Insight Security Services Ltd: Private security services

Insight Security Services provides a range of security services to the armed forces and private sector. This includes personalised services that include CCTV monitoring, manned guarding, and off-site monitoring and protection services.

Ingeus UK: Temporary employment agency activities

Ingeus UK is one of the companies that specialise in solutions to social challenges by developing and enhancing community independence and providing access to learning opportunities for skills development, job-seeking/interview skills, and overall health and well-being.

Ventro Ltd: Fire service activities

Ventro works with Ministry of Defence contracts and other UK defence contractors, ensuring that all onsite safety and security regulations comply with the demanding regulations in the defence industry, including accreditations. 

Service include:

• Site assessments
• Survey and report on areas where fire safety can be improved
• Passive and active fire safety systems
• Fire-stopping or compartmentation

OpenView Electrical Solutions: a) Electrical installation; b) security systems service activities; c) other service activities not elsewhere classified

OpenView provides a variety of compliant and sustainable electrical services to the public sector, including local authorities and social housing.

Services are available for small, medium, and large government defence contracts in the UK. These include leveraging the latest technology and innovations to provide solutions relevant to the evolving defence market and market needs.

Harmony Fire: a) Engineering-related scientific and technical consulting activities; b) other service activities not elsewhere classified

Harmony, like Ventro, is one of the defence companies in the UK that provides clients with the best, most up-to-date end-to-end fire safety solutions in the country. Strategies comprise the design, implementation, delivery, and maintenance of services necessary to solve high-risk environmental challenges.

Wates Construction Limited: Construction of commercial buildings

Wates Construction has taken the new social value requirements in public procurement and run with them. For instance, it optimised its construction methods with greener building materials, and a more modern, eco-aware construction process. The upshot is that the company’s processes are more cost-efficient, which helps them provide the best value for money.

It’s even led to safer working conditions, as well as the capacity to grow their contributions to local charities.

Orbis Protect Limited: Private security services

Orbis saw a need and filled it by providing protection services for vacant land and damaged property, as well as personal protection. Vacant property that belongs to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is vulnerable to graffiti and vandalism (like breaking windows and stealing toilet seats). Orbis has security solutions to help prevent this from happening.

Construction sites are also full of opportunities for thieves to raid and plunder. With Orbis protecting the site, however, expensive equipment will be safe and sound. 

Orbis is compliant with MOD accreditations and standards in the United Kingdom.

Novus Group Limited: Activities of head offices

Novus is a boutique IT consultancy that provides bespoke solutions to the public sector, including the UK defence industry, education, and the private sector. Novus has partnerships with industry giants; Microsoft, HP, and Cisco. This helps ensure they are always up to date with the newest technology, infrastructure, and software developments for their IT clients.

Prime Assistance For SMEs In The UK Defence Industry

The new Procurement Act makes it easier for SMEs to participate in the public sector, primarily through low-value contracts and social value. However, the defence industry is still largely inaccessible to SMEs due to its nature, size, and especially strict regulations.

It’s a real pity for the defence sector and other main companies in procurement because SMEs are driving innovation and technological development in most industries – but not for the UK’s armed forces.

There is a solution for both sides and it comes in the form of Strategic Defence Suppliers, also known as Primes. 

In a nutshell, SMEs don’t have to supply their goods, services, or works directly to the UK Ministry of Defence or the government authority that publishes defence contracts online. Instead, they supply their goods, services, or works to companies that have Prime status.

Primes allow SMEs to join other companies in the UK’s industry, so they can become an essential and dynamic link in the defence procurement’s supply chain.

Benefits to SMEs include:

• Inclusion in the supplier pool
• Access to valuable, in-depth UK defence industry knowledge
• Access to government frameworks
• Relationship building with influential suppliers
• Increased collaboration opportunities with other SMEs and companies in the defence industry
• Not having to worry much about security and financial warranties

Benefits to suppliers include:

• A bigger and more varied supplier pool
• Contribution to MOD social value targets
• Increased agility and flexibility
• Integration of cutting-edge technology
• More efficient supply chain processes
• Expertise in niche areas of defence
• Lower-than-expected industry spending

Quick Tips For Successful Defence Sector Marketing

Marketing to the defence sector is unlike other public sector marketing. This isn’t surprising, really. Not when you consider the sensitive information and the confidential nature of defence technology and services. Still, the industry needs goods and services to keep going and they have to come from somewhere. It might as well be you.

The sensitivity of the sector has shielded it from some of the more modern digital marketing techniques. Instead, it favoured in-person-related marketing. We’re talking about defence events, trade shows, exhibitions, demonstrations – almost everything that’s not digital.

But COVID-19 put paid to that and out of necessity the MOD is focusing more on the digital realm. 

Now, suppliers need to up their marketing game as things like online content marketing become more important. However, because it’s not really been necessary before, suppliers don’t have the skills or knowledge to kick up their marketing strategies and hold their own against competitors. So they’re outsourcing the service to agencies that already specialise in B2G (business-to-government) marketing.

Public sector marketing agencies are more than happy to pick up the reins, but some factors specific to the UK defence industry need to be borne in mind.

If we go back to our sensitive information example, for instance, marketers must ensure they completely, absolutely understand restrictions on what can be made public. They must be careful about topic selection when creating whitepapers and webinars. It’s also probably best to have whitepapers and webinars gated. (There are just some things that every Tom, Dick, and Harry doesn’t need to know.)

Defence marketers must completely and absolutely know where and how they can share data. TikTok might not be the best social media channel, for instance, but LinkedIn could be suitable.

Finally, they must be completely and absolutely compliant with defence industry-related regulations on a local and national basis, as well as the regulations regarding B2G marketing in general.

One last bit of advice: Don’t let digital completely overshadow personal.

Now that we’ve had several post-COVID years, many people are yearning for human connection. So, throw some trade shows into your online marketing strategy and keep everyone happy. 

Support For Public Sector Marketing In The UK Defence Industry

Breaking into defence sector procurement is tough. You have to keep your eye on the ball to spot and take advantage of opportunities immediately.

That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for marketing strategies and digital marketing solutions. Cadence Marketing can save you from this burden by taking on essential B2G marketing services.

Leave your market research, webinars, and other campaigns to the professionals. Contact Cadence Marketing to book a free consultation and discover how we can support you deliver the best quality products, services, or works.