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techUK members contribute to government review of the contribution by Defence to the prosperity of the UK economy.

In late March 2018, former Minister for Defence Procurement Philip Dunne MP was asked by the Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson to conduct a review of the contribution by Defence to the overall prosperity of the UK economy. The review is examining how the Defence industry helps to create jobs across the UK, as well as stimulating economic growth at a regional and national level.

The review aims to demonstrate to the taxpayer the significance of Defence to the wider UK economy, which is of particular relevance as the nation leaves the EU and looks to establish new trading relationships in the future.

techUK was invited to participate in an industry roundtable with Philip Dunne on 29 March, to discuss the scope of the review, as well as the information sought by the review team to support its analysis and outputs. Part of this included a request for case studies which demonstrate how companies working in Defence have contributed to the UK’s prosperity, particularly in specific regions within the UK.

techUK members 2iC and Nexor volunteered to submit a technology-focused case study for inclusion in the prosperity review through techUK, and both proposals were accepted by the review team for inclusion in the final publication. 2iC’s case study looks at how government funding has enabled the company to export around the world, whilst Nexor’s case study is focused on how it is partnering with academia to build autonomous vehicle networks.

techUK looks forward to the prosperity review’s final report, which will demonstrate how innovative Defence technology companies have helped contribute to the UK’s overall economic prosperity.

For more information on the prosperity review, please contact Fred Sugden at: fred.sugden@techUK.org