Following the success of the first Hereford Defence and Security Expo in 2017, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, one of the UK’s Top 100 law firms, is organising a second major defence and security expo at the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo (3CDSE).
The event, which will be held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern on 31 May 2018, will be run in partnership with The Manufacturers’ Organisation (EEF) and its dedicated defence sub-group, National Defence Industries (NDI).
Local business groups and government bodies, including Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Worcestershire Business Central, Hereford Enterprise Zone/Skylon Park, Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership have also partnered with Harrison Clark Rickerbys to support the event.
With a theme of innovation, commitments of support and participation have been received from a number of senior military speakers including Brigadier Robin Sergeant, Head of Future Force Development of the British Army; Danny Wootton, Head of Innovation, MoD and Colonel Jani Marok RMR, Head of the Royal Marine Reserves.
Leading defence and security experts from prime industry contractors such as Vodafone, BAE Systems and Thales will also be presenting and exhibiting, alongside leading defence and security businesses and experts based in the Three Counties, including QinetiQ. The exhibition space will be zoned, to include cyber security, hardware and vehicles, IT and communications (C4ITS) and unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition to the presentation programme, there will be a networking breakfast with a keynote speaker, as well as a full day of workshops and presentations covering international trade, grants and finance and practical information about doing business with the MoD.
Outside the exhibition hall there will be a military display; inside, alongside the main defence and security exhibition, there will be a professional village presenting organisations such as banks and recruitment businesses who provide professional advice and specialist services to the defence industry. Members of the West Midlands Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association will also be on hand to answer employer queries about the MoD’s Employer Covenant.
The event, which will be of interest to those involved in cyber security, information security, emergency planning and disaster recovery as well as to the broader defence and security industry, is the inspiration of Richard Morgan, partner and head of the Defence, Security and the Forces team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys.
Richard said; ‘The first event at The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford, was over-subscribed, reaching the venue capacity of 30 exhibitors (with an unfulfilled waiting list of interested businesses) and 400 delegates, who attended from across the UK. Building on this success the event has been scaled up, and we’re delighted that the Three Counties Showground in Malvern will be this year’s venue, with capacity for up to 150 exhibitors and 2,000 delegates.”
He continued; “The regional dynamic and still relatively intimate scale of the event offers business to business networking opportunities between contributors to the Defence and Security sector in the Three Counties area as well as with Prime contractors and the military. This means that unlike larger Expos, delegates have the opportunity to meet with decision makers.”
Dr Alex Tarter, head of Cyber Consulting at Thales, has been working in the field of critical national infrastructure cyber security for over 10 years, and will be one of the presenters at the event.
Dr. Tarter said; “Thales believes in the strength and diversity of the defence and security supply chain which is why we’re happy to support the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo. Given the recent significant changes to our industry through the introduction of DEFCON 658, GDPR and the NIS Directive, we see the value in our sector coming together, sharing valuable lessons learned and contributing to the creation of a vibrant and secure environment for UK PLC to continue to blossom on the world-stage.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Worcestershire boasts some of the UK’s most innovative cyber and defence businesses, and events like the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo go a long way to profile just how forward thinking our local companies are. I am excited to meet with these businesses at the event taking place on 31 May.”
Richard Morgan concluded; “3CDSE will appeal to those operating in the defence and security industry, those seeking products and services from the industry and those seeking to engage with the industry for joint ventures, employment, education or other initiatives.”
Further information about the event, including information about exhibiting and attending can be found on their website here.
