How SCAPE supports the UK Defence Sector through compliant, sustainable frameworks

By Andrew Bannister, National Key Accounts Manager – Defence Sector

The Government has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, rising to 3.5% by 2035. Alongside this investment, the past year has seen the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the creation of the National Armaments Director group (NAD). NAD brings together senior leaders from across defence, including the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), alongside several other established and newly formed bodies.

One of the clear messages to emerge from NAD is the need for defence procurement to become smarter, faster and more effective. This is something we strongly welcome. SCAPE’s suite of frameworks are already used as a trusted, compliant procurement route across the UK defence estate. Our delivery partners are repairing runways, upgrading military housing, delivering data centres and strengthening critical national infrastructure for both conventional and nuclear defence, supporting UK forces as well as visiting US forces.

SCAPE is active across construction, civil engineering, utilities and a full range of professional services, consistently delivering projects on time and on budget. Our framework delivery partners exceed Ministry of Defence key performance indicators for sustainability and social value, demonstrating that operational delivery and responsible outcomes can be achieved together. This capability is not limited to public sector clients; our Venture frameworks are increasingly being used by private-sector organisations working in partnership with the MoD to deliver defence capacity and equipment.

The scale and breadth of our defence work has enabled SCAPE and our framework delivery partners to develop deep sector expertise. This includes security-cleared teams and supply chains, cyber-resilient systems, and experienced professionals able to operate across the full defence estate.

While we fully recognise and support the sensitivities and confidentiality requirements associated with defence projects, particularly those marked as confidential or sensitive, social value remains a critical part of delivery. Case studies such as RAF Lakenheath USVF and Bridging the skills gap through Defence projects demonstrate how, even within highly regulated and secure environments, long-term and meaningful outcomes can be achieved. These range from skills development and local employment to supply chain resilience and community investment, aligned with Ministry of Defence priorities.

Together, these programmes demonstrate how SCAPE supports the defence sector to respond to reform, deliver at scale and meet the highest standards of compliance, sustainability and social value. Through our Gold Standard frameworks, we help defence organisations procure smarter, strengthen their supply chains and deliver critical infrastructure with confidence across the whole defence estate.

As defence reform continues across procurement, infrastructure and supply chains, SCAPE provides a trusted, compliant and efficient route to market for the UK defence sector. Our suite of frameworks help the MoD, DIO and wider defence community respond to reform, manage risk and deliver vital infrastructure that supports national security.