techUK news and views
05 Mar 2025

Ministry of Defence announces new Innovation Hub

On Monday, the MOD announced the launch of a ‘new defence innovation organisation’ to ‘deliver cutting-edge military tech to British troops and create highly skilled jobs across the UK’.

The organisation would ‘harness UK ingenuity and boost military technology’, with the full details to appear in the Spring Statement.

The announcement comes as the Government confirms that UK defence spending will reach 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, and the MOD will commit to new SME spending targets by June this year.

techUK has long called for a single organisation within the Defence Enterprise to coordinate innovation spend and achieve successful pull-through of technologies into the hands of the end-user. In both its Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy submissions, the Defence Programme has argued that the MOD requires a single innovation front door through which companies can access the wider defence market, with the authority to delegate procurement responsibilities when appropriate.

For more information on techUK’s Defence Programme, please contact Programme Manager Jeremy Wimble.

Jeremy Wimble

Jeremy Wimble

Programme Manager, Defence, techUK

Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.

Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.

Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.

Email:
[email protected]

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Defence Programme activities

The Defence programme works to help the UK’s defence technology sector align itself with the MOD. techUK members are able to navigate and better understand the UK Defence sector to successfully align their own investment and resources to take advantage of business opportunities. Visit the programme page here.

 

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1 May 2025

The changing face of security: How UK SMEs can utilise the R&D tax credit scheme

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7 May 2025

The new Procurement Act and what it means for Defence

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15 May 2025

Sopra Steria and Defence Digital introduce BluejaySecureCollaboration (CWE@S)

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Meet the team  

Fred Sugden

Fred Sugden

Associate Director, Defence and National Security, techUK

Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.

Fred is responsible for techUK’s market engagement and policy development activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working closely with various organisations within the Ministry of Defence, and across the wider National Security and Intelligence community. Fred works closely with many techUK member companies that have an interest in these sectors, and is responsible for the activities of techUK's senior Defence & Security Board. Working closely with techUK's Programme Head for Cyber Security, Fred oversees a broad range of activities for techUK members.

Outside of work, Fred's interests include football (a Watford FC fan) and skiing.

 

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
07985 234 170

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Jeremy Wimble

Jeremy Wimble

Programme Manager, Defence, techUK

Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.

Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.

Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.

Email:
[email protected]

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Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Tracy supports the marketing of several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Central Government, Cyber Resilience, Defence, Education, Health and Social Care, Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.

Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!

Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
02073312000
Website:
www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83

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