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Supplier Diversity & InclusionSME & Finance

Anmol Sharma

11/09/2026

The UK government has committed to raising defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, with NATO allies agreeing a longer term ambition of 3.5% by 2035. Within that spending, the Defence Industrial Strategy sets a specific target to boost spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028. For diverse owned businesses, women owned, ethnic minority owned, disabled owned, veteran owned, LGBTQ+ owned, and social enterprises, this is one of the most significant supply chain openings in a sector that has historically been hard to break into.

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ProcurementSME & Finance

Anmol Sharma

28/08/2026

A £200 million contract to support the Royal Navy went to a shipbuilder in the Netherlands. A £9 million deal to refit a research vessel went to a yard in Denmark. And there is now real concern in Whitehall that a £1.9 billion contract to upgrade the Faslane shipyard, the base that services Britain's nuclear submarines, could go the same way once it goes out to open tender.

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SME & FinanceSupplier Diversity & Inclusion

Anmol Sharma

14/08/2026

Every pound spent with a local, regional supplier works harder for the economy than the same pound spent somewhere else. According to new analysis from the British Chambers of Commerce, money spent locally generates roughly £1.76 in wider economic value for every pound, compared with only around £0.36 when that same spending leaves the area. That is nearly a fivefold difference, sitting quietly inside Britain's public procurement system, mostly untapped.

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Data & TechSupplier Diversity & Inclusion

Anmol Sharma

15/07/2026

One of the biggest barriers to successful supplier diversity programmes is not a lack of commitment, it's keeping supplier information accurate. For years, procurement teams have relied on spreadsheets, supplier declarations, emails, and disconnected systems to track supplier diversity data. While these methods can work initially, they become difficult to manage as supplier networks grow and change.

Blog

Supplier Diversity & InclusionESG

Anmol Sharma

08/07/2026

When organisations talk about supply chain risk, the conversation usually focuses on major suppliers. Procurement teams spend significant time assessing Tier 1 suppliers, reviewing financial stability, monitoring performance, and preparing contingency plans. On paper, everything can look secure.

Blog

Supplier Diversity & InclusionProcurement

Anmol Sharma

03/07/2026

If you work in procurement, supplier diversity, or supply chain management, you will probably be familiar with the challenge of supplier certification. For years, organisations have relied on PDFs, spreadsheets, email chains, and manual audits to verify supplier credentials. While these processes were created to ensure accuracy and compliance, they often introduced significant administrative burden for both buyers and suppliers.