BMT Defence Services, a subsidiary of BMT Group, has announced an initiative which will provide vital support to small and medium sized companies (SMEs), industry suppliers and academia looking to engage with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) supply chain.

Using the company’s core acquisition support expertise and 25 years of defence domain experience, BMT Defence Link helps to connect industry capabilities with the UK defence and security needs, delivering solutions which provide real added value and operational advantages for all parties. By breaking down barriers to entry and educating the wider engineering and technology industries, Defence Link facilitates the flow of information. This in turn helps suppliers to better understand the manner in which project deliverables must align with the stringent requirements set out by the MoD.

The services offered include: customer relationship management, tender documentation, requirements analysis, acquisition support documentation, technology road mapping, commercial support and test and evaluation services.

Muir Macdonald, managing director at BMT Defence Services, explains: "The recent Green Paper (Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security) emphasises the need for UK defence and security to gain access to and exploit cutting edge, engineering technology where the UK has a rich heritage. However, knowing who to pitch to and how, as well as being able to fully understand the UK MoD’s commercial processes can be a steep learning curve. This is where Defence Link can provide a true collaborative approach and facilitate defence relationships for innovative capability delivery to our personnel on the front line."

The value of this initiative reaches across the enterprise; through services such as market research and technology watch, Defence Link offers an easy route to identifying new and emerging technologies within industry. This approach will allow the MoD to reap the benefits and deliver the capabilities required.

Muir Macdonald continues: "Working with the UK MoD and other key defence suppliers for over 25 years has enabled BMT to refine its skills and become a knowledgeable and trusted partner – experience which other organisations can benefit from when looking for impartial advice and guidance on dealing with the complex world of defence."