Over the last two decades, our founding team have worked across some of the knottiest problems in UK Defence.  From new technology concepts, to approvals, acquisition and service strategy development, capability programme management and even tough commercial negotiations on struggling delivery contracts, we've seen much of the Defence system in practice.

 

Outside of Defence, we have shaped and delivered strategic technology and business transformation programmes in other industries ranging from telecoms and retail to transport and other central Government departments.

 

This experience has shaped how we think about the unique challenges and opportunities for UK Defence, why this matters to us, and how we can help.

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Strong UK Defence is foundational

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As the world’s foremost defensive alliance, a strong NATO and UK Defence is fundamental to positive outcomes for the world. This is especially true in the face of escalating global risks like climate change, cyber threats, AI and rising superpower competition – we’ll struggle to deal with climate change without an environment which supports global cooperation. Strong Defence is foundational.

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Global threats are accelerating

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But this is under threat. More powerful technologies are becoming ever cheaper and more dispersed, increasing the risk. It’s now not just state actors with access to powerful technologies, from advanced drones and AI to bio-engineering, and this trend will accelerate.The wider Defence enterprise must dramatically accelerate to stay ahead of the threat, or risk the consequences.

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Defence is a system - and it needs an overhaul

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Defence is a system, currently geared around funding, approvals, and placing contracts - over delivering battle-winning capability at pace. This is slow and wasteful and without intervention will not keep pace with the threat.

This is not news, but it also hard to grapple with: we all just see the parts we're touching, and prioritise accordingly.  SROs can get drawn into ministerial briefings or approvals, commercial folk zero in on procurement process compliance or contract KPIs, engineers can get absorbed with interesting technologies, while industry partners obsess over change control. Meanwhile the real purpose - equipping our forces to meet the threats - can take a back seat. 

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None of this is malicious intent. It's just the reality of a system that emerged during the Industrial Age and hardened during the Cold War big platform era. One tuned for purchasing mammoth platforms over multi-decade waterfall lifecycles - with an incoherent patchwork of policies crystallising the complexity, and pouring treacle on hopes of rapid delivery.

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We believe that understanding systemic and cultural factors is key to successful change.  This is why point solutions and long-screwdriver interventions so often fail (and a glut of consulting spend is wasted!). The world has changed, and Defence acquisition must too.

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Proactive industry strategy will be central

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The Defence industry is entering a period of turmoil. For decades, the predominant business strategy for new entrants has been to grow around a specific technology or service and seek to be acquired by a Prime or larger competitor. But there’s a new breed of firms, often with Silicon Valley heritage and deep pockets, aggressively challenge the old guard with particular strength around increasingly pivotal digital technologies, AI and robotics.

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This is both opportunity and threat. Procurement process compliance will no longer be enough - proactive industry strategy is key.

 

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Culture and Communication are key

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With its uniquely rich heritage, culture is a dominant force in UK Defence. This brings incredible strength and resilience, as well as some resistance to change.

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There is no shortage of brilliant ideas, innovative solutions, and people working exceptionally hard to realise these in spite of systemic headwinds.  We believe effective communication can be as important as the ideas themselves, and a systemic approach is essential to unlock these.

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It's a team sport - commitment counts

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Change in Defence is a team sport – we are committed to helping the growing community of change leaders across all levels of the UK Defence enterprise to envision, shape, advocate for and deliver the radical transformation required.

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