In Person Event – Location TBD (Central London)
AGENDA:
13.30 Registration and networking tea/coffee
14.00 Welcoming comments (John MacNamara, CEO, Carshalton Commodities Ltd, and Chair of the London Trade Roundtable)
14.05 Welcome from the Host
14.10 Overview on the UK MoD’s Defence Industrial Strategy and the Procurement Act 2023 (Emma Baker, Defence Policy Advisor, ADS Group, Charlotte Davies, Head of Defence Commercial, ADS Group and Andrew Dean, Partner, Bird & Bird)
14.40 Open Forum Q&A
14.50 Possible new UK Industrial Participation Policy session (Joe Royce, Defence Industrial Strategy, Industrial Strategy and Policy Advisor, UK Ministry of Defence TBC and Stephen Lewis, UK Partner, Constructive Edge Inc)
15.20 Panel discussion session
15.40 Networking Break
16.00 Trade finance and defence SME funding (Aimie Stone, Chief Economist, ADS Group, Akim Kibalnik, Executive Director, Head of Structured Trade Finance Solutions, EMEA at BBVA and Board Member of the London Trade Roundtable)
16.20 Panel discussion session
16.50 Closing comments Chair for the event
16.55 Networking reception
Seminar: “Opportunities in Defence Trade Finance, Offset and Defence SME Funding”
ADS Group (www.adsgroup.org.uk), the London Trade Roundtable (Linkedin & Website) and Capital Offset Services Ltd (https://www.capitaloffsetservices.com/) are collaborating in the joint organisation of a half-day seminar on Defence Trade Finance, Offset and Defence SME Funding, which will be taking place in Central London on the afternoon of Monday 8th September, the day before the opening of the major, international DSEI 2025 exhibition (https://www.dsei.co.uk/).
One of the major inhibitors that is perceived by a number of British and European defence and security companies in general, and by small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, is accesses to adequate trade finance support, with many suppliers to such essential assistance perceived to have “issues” (quite often related to ESG – or Environmental, Social and Governance – related concerns) involving supporting these sectors. Many defence and security companies have come to regard these issues as representing an existential threat to them. Yet, at the same time, the essential need for European governments to raise their defence and security spending to enhance their capabilities to ensure that their national security requirements have not been higher since the end of the “Cold War” some 35 years’ ago.
This FREE-TO-PARTICIPATE joint event is intended to explore the business opportunities that are available in this challenging time, both for the suppliers and also the trade finance sector. This event will cover: UK regulatory issues, such as the latest Strategic Defence Review 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-strategic-defence-review-2025-making-britain-safer-secure-at-home-strong-abroad), and ADS Group’s reading of it (https://www.adsgroup.org.uk/knowledge/strategic-defence-review-publication/?utm_source=bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=knowledge&dm_i=1W52,8Y96P,CCU12X,11CGHC,1), as well as the potential implications of the UK’s new Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents); the potential opportunities that might arise from the proposed new “Industrial Participation Policy” that is being discussed as part of the new Defence Industrial Strategy; and the wider subject of Trade Finance and Defence SME Funding.
For further details or to register to attend this event, please contact: stephen.lewis@capitalexportservices.com and brinley.salzmann@adsgroup.org.uk.