Southampton, UK – 5 November 2024 - Lockheed Martin UK today brought together over 100 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from its pioneering SMEUNITE® ecosystem at the third annual conference held at Southampton Football Club’s St Mary’s Stadium. This event showcased the growth and impact of the SMEUNITE® programme, which aims to foster collaboration, opportunity and investment for UK-based SMEs to contribute to critical UK defence programmes.

Since its inception, the SMEUNITE® ecosystem has expanded significantly. Membership has grown from 51 in its first year to 120, with a further 48 SMEs in the onboarding process. To date, 15 Lockheed Martin UK programmes across land, sea, and air sectors have engaged with SMEUNITE®, resulting in contracts worth approximately £15 million being awarded to member SMEs.

Building a Strong Supply Chain. 

The SMEUNITE® platform is one of several initiatives launched by Lockheed Martin UK to create a robust, diverse, and agile supply chain. Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin UK also introduced the AS9100 Approved Supplier Database, a centralised platform accessible to all within the organisation, offering a streamlined resource for identifying suppliers across a range of technologies.

Paul Livingston, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK, emphasised the critical role of SMEs, stating, “The SMEUNITE® ecosystem is the first of its kind in the industry and continues to provide incredible opportunities for an array of innovative SMEs to bring their skills and latest technological advances to UK Defence.”

A Groundbreaking Initiative for UK Defence. 

SMEUNITE® provides SMEs with the opportunity to break down barriers and contribute directly to UK defence, some of whom are engaging with the defence sector for the first time. These SMEs are spread across the UK, bringing work to economically disadvantaged areas and supporting HM Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.

Driving Social Value and Sustainability. 

Throughout the conference, Lockheed Martin UK reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration, encouraging SMEs to connect, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities. With a focus on social value, sustainability, and SME engagement, the company is dedicated to ensuring that its supply chain supports high-quality jobs across all four nations of the UK.

For more information on how to join the SMEUNITE® ecosystem, visit https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-gb/suppliers/uk-smeunite.html.

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About Lockheed Martin UK
With a UK supplier network of over 500 companies, including 75% SMEs, Lockheed Martin UK has a longstanding commitment to supporting British businesses, driving economic growth and innovation in critical defence technologies.