Andy Start outlines need for UK Military to stay ahead of peer challengers
On 1 May, Andy Start, CEO of Defence Equipment and Support (DE and S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, outlined to an audience at RUSI the imperative of strengthening the UK’s defence framework to effectively meet the threat from Russia and support our international allies.
In his opening remarks and over the course of a Q&A session, Mr Start discussed the changing demands on Allied acquisition organisations and the efforts currently underway in DE and S to increase the pace and efficiency of delivery as part of a wider MoD programme of change.
In his prepared remarks, Mr Start said:
We are now implementing the most significant improvement to our ways of working for over a decade. This implements our part of the Integrated Procurement Model and supports the emerging wider Defence Design process. We rolled out the first part of our new operating model – The Gateway – in March and will roll out the minimum viable product for the rest of the organisation by the autumn. We expect to be in full flow by this time next year. It’s a profound change to our processes, the way we’re structured and our culture.
He also provided his insight on how to maximise the organisation’s unique position in the defence enterprise, while strengthening the international partnerships that enable continued protection and prosperity for the UK and its allies in an increasingly contested world.
Mr Start continued:
Transforming DE and S is only the start of the changes we are making, and must continue to make, to both the UK defence enterprise and wider NATO defence enterprise, if we are to deter the threats we face. We need to work together to completely digitise our end-to-end acquisition processes. We need to make our defence industry even more competitive, more innovative more productive, more collaborative, more secure and more resilient. We need to attract more financial capital to the sector, and we need to work with educators to grow more talent and attract talent into the defence sector.
Andy Start, CEO of Defence Equipment and Support
Reflecting on Mr Start’s address, Professor Trevor Taylor, the Director of RUSI’s Defence, Industries and Society Research Group, said:
Both affordability and a deteriorating global security situation make increased acquisition effectiveness vital for the Ministry of Defence. There has been a flow of policy commitments coming from the MoD as a whole, including an Integrated Procurement Model, and DE and S’ Chief Executive Andy Start provided a clear explanation of how his organisation is responding to its need to go better and faster.
Trevor Taylor
Professorial Research Fellow