Press Release
Ministry of Defence programme run by Grant Thornton supports UK defence suppliers in building productivity and competitiveness
21 Jul 2025
Leading business and financial advisers Grant Thornton UK today announce that applications are open for the Defence Supplier Capability Development Programme (DSCDP), a government-funded programme designed to build capability and capacity in the UK’s defence supply chain. This exciting programme, funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), will provide growing UK businesses supplying the defence sector with up to £200,000 of bespoke business improvement support.
This is the second round of applications that have opened since the programme launched in September 2024.
The launch of this new application window aligns with the objectives of the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, which positions defence as a key driver of economic growth, with a strong emphasis on partnerships with UK industry to create jobs and boost national prosperity.
The programme aims to:
- Support the development of a more productive and competitive UKdefence sector by providing business improvement support to UK based defence suppliers.
- Increase domestic resilience and improve companies’ ability to win export opportunities.
The programme will be managed on behalf of the MOD by Grant Thornton. The support each business receives will be based on an initial diagnostic assessment conducted to evaluate each organisation’s capabilities and needs, ensuring that every business receives the appropriate assistance to address their unique requirements. This will lead on to a tailored package of support delivered by a range of experts in each critical area that participants need to develop.
Based in Shipley, Yorkshire, Radio Design is a UK based organisation that specialises in the design and manufacture of radio frequency and microwave sub-system solutions for the defence market. The company was delighted to be selected in the first cohort of companies for the DSCDP and have benefited greatly.
A spokesperson from Radio Design said:
“The programme has provided support across a wide range of business functions and is enabling us to develop effective strategies to grow our defence technology business. We look forward to working with the team at Grant Thorton over the next few months and are sure it will improve our business in the short, medium and long term.”
Phil Woolley, Partner and Head of Public Sector Consulting at Grant Thornton UK, commented:
“We are proud to deliver this vital programme which supports the development of a more productive and competitive UK defence sector, by giving growing businesses the support they need to reach their full potential, and are looking forward to helping another great set of companies to drive their business forward following the current application round.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson added:
“This programme supports small and medium-sized defence companies operating in the UK to contribute to both supporting growth and protecting our national security, which are both key objectives for the UK; this is a pivotal moment to deepen collaboration with industry and help build a resilient, future-ready defence sector for the UK.”
Companies in the sector that are interested in applying for this support can register at www.dscdp.co.uk
