UK MoD sets date for SME Action Plan release

The UK’s SME Action Plan is due to be released in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard.  

Answering a written parliamentary question on 24 April, Pollard also confirmed that the SME Action Plan and delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will not be published at the same time.  

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) initially announced its intention in March to publish the SME plan following the release of the DIP.  

With the action plan due to be published in the second quarter of this year – which ends on 30 June – it indicates that the DIP will also be released before the end of the second quarter. The DIP, which has faced significant and repeated delays, is intended to provide a 10-year roadmap for defence procurement.  

Meanwhile, the SME Action Plan is intended to increase the role of smaller companies in defence and reduce barriers to entry into the market. It will be driven by the Office for Small Business Growth.  

Pollard added that the MoD is “committed” to releasing the action plan annually to help SMEs.  

Budgeting for SMEs 

Regarding financial commitments for SMEs, Pollard was also asked whether a direct spending target would be released on the same day as the DIP. He confirmed that this would not be published concurrently with the DIP and noted that the target would be included with the action plan. He provided no further detail into the spending target. 

However, in an additional written parliamentary answer on 27 April, Pollard noted that the MoD had set a target to increase spending with SMEs by 50% compared to 2023-24. This will see a GBP2.5 billion increase in spending to GBP7.5 billion by May 2028.