SMEUNITE® Celebrates Five Years of Strengthening Defence Through SME Collaboration
SMEUNITE® is celebrating its fifth year of connecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), defence customers and industry partners, marking a significant milestone in the growth of one of the UK's leading defence collaboration forums.
Established to strengthen engagement between Lockheed Martin, industry partners and innovative SMEs, SMEUNITE® has grown considerably since its launch. Today, the network includes over 220 SME members and has become an important platform for driving innovation, collaboration and business growth across the defence sector.
SMEUNITE®’s impact is reflected in the opportunities it has created for its members. Since its inception, SMEUNITE® has facilitated the release of more than 200 competitions, supported 42 early engagement activities via expressions of interest, and enabled the placement of over 100 contracts with SMEs. These achievements demonstrate the vital role SMEs play in delivering specialist expertise, innovation, agility and resilience throughout the defence supply chain.
The value of SMEUNITE® was recently recognised at the highest levels. On 9 June 2026, Andrew Kinniburgh, Director General of Make UK Defence, highlighted SMEUNITE® during a Parliamentary discussion as a strong example of effective prime contractor engagement with SMEs and its contribution to strengthening the UK's defence industrial base.
This October, the annual SMEUNITE® Conference will once again be hosted by DRPG Group at its state-of-the-art facility in Kidderminster. As a longstanding supplier to Lockheed Martin, DRPG provides an exceptional environment for collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing, bringing together SMEs, defence customers and industry leaders under one roof.
SMEUNITE® was founded with a clear objective: to provide SMEs with greater access to defence opportunities while helping Lockheed Martin, its customers and industry partners connect with the innovation and specialist capabilities that smaller businesses can offer. Five years on, that mission remains as relevant as ever.
SMEs are a critical part of the defence ecosystem. They contribute cutting-edge technologies, advanced manufacturing expertise, engineering excellence, digital capabilities and specialist solutions that support the delivery of defence capability. By creating opportunities for engagement, SMEUNITE® enables organisations to build new relationships, explore collaborative opportunities and strengthen the industrial base that underpins operational effectiveness.
For the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, greater engagement with SMEs provides access to a broader range of innovative solutions, strengthens supply chain resilience and helps accelerate capability development to meet emerging threats. A diverse and competitive supplier base also supports sovereign capability and ensures defence can draw upon the best talent and expertise available across the UK.
Over the past five years, SMEUNITE® has evolved into a recognised platform for collaboration, capability development and business growth. SMEUNITE® enables SMEs to showcase their expertise, gain a deeper understanding of defence requirements, develop strategic partnerships and engage directly with key stakeholders from across the sector.
As the defence landscape continues to evolve, SMEUNITE® remains committed to helping innovative businesses succeed, strengthening the UK's defence industrial base and supporting the delivery of capability to those serving on the front line.
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If you would to become part of the SMEUNITE® ecosystem, click here for further information.