Digital Planning joined manufacturers and tech suppliers at the latest East Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (EMRDSC) meeting.
It came as cyber security continues as a critical gateway to defence procurement for SMEs across the region.
Convened by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the meeting brought together manufacturers, SMEs and contractors from across the region to explore the opportunities, and requirements, of defence procurement.
Sessions from the EMRDSC, the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, and Rolls‑Royce focused on how SMEs can engage with major programmes, the standards expected of suppliers, and where future demand is likely for the East Midlands’ manufacturing base.
Throughout each of the sessions, it was clear that cyber security is now a requirement for any SME looking to bid into defence supply chains. Suppliers are expected to evidence resilient security controls, clear governance, and a plan to keep pace with evolving threats.
Digital Planning works with organisations to put that foundation in place – helping clients gain Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditations, strengthen infrastructure and move towards ISO 27001 (the highest standard for information security management).
The Loughborough-based company also builds bespoke AI workflows for planning, optimisation and decision support. These workflows are aligned against the emerging ISO 42001 standard for AI management systems. This high standard of security ensures automation is built on clear governance, consistent quality and auditable controls.
This positions clients to prepare for the upcoming Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) scheme – providing formal assurance of a supplier’s cyber resilience for UK defence contracts.
Digital Planning’s recently-published research guide, Bridging the Digital Delivery Gap in Manufacturing, is written specifically for manufacturers.Based on interviews with more than 80 UK companies, the guide shows how delivery stalls when strategy, people and technology are not joined up on the factory floor.
It sets out a five‑step, 90‑day playbook to help manufacturers connect plans, data and decision making to improve productivity and respond faster to new demand.
