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Babcock Australasia has joined forces with the New Zealand Defence Industry Association to highlight fresh opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) looking to break into national and global defence and maritime supply chains.
A supplier day, held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on 23 September, brought together New Zealand businesses, supply chain partners, original equipment manufacturers and defence leaders to discuss emerging opportunities and the New Zealand government’s new Defence agenda following the release of the Defence Capability Plan.
Babcock used the event to outline potential avenues for industry to contribute to its Arrowhead 140 proposal, which is being positioned as a future solution for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).
The company has been the strategic maritime partner to the New Zealand Defence Force since 1995, sustaining the entirety of the RNZN fleet and operating the country’s largest marine engineering and maintenance facility at Devonport in Auckland.
Babcock Australasia chief executive officer Andrew Cridland said there has never been a better time for local industry to step into the defence sector.
“There is no doubt there are unprecedented opportunities – both locally and globally – for New Zealand businesses who have an exciting chance to take part in current and future defence projects, which in turn deliver economic growth for local communities,” Cridland said.
“SMEs play a critical role in Babcock’s supply chain and global business. In New Zealand, Babcock works with more than 600 local suppliers, each of them integral to the services we provide the Royal New Zealand Navy and to the country’s future defence agenda.
“Over 91 per cent of Babcock New Zealand’s current expenditure flows back into the New Zealand economy through local suppliers. In just the past two years, more than $220 million of activity has gone directly into the SME network.”
New Zealand Defence Industry Association CEO Ian Harman said the Defence Capability Plan could not be delivered without close collaboration between Defence and industry.
“Industry is a critical partner in both the supply of military capability and infrastructure, and in ensuring their sustainment through life,” Harman said.
“Partnering with defence companies like Babcock to support supplier days such as this allows us to help SMEs enter the industry and, in turn, support New Zealand’s defence priorities.”
