DPRTE: supporting the safety and welfare of our Service men and women

February 26, 2020

Camp Bastion grew from a bare patch of Afghan desert to the UK’s fifth busiest airport over the duration of Operation Herrick. The British base provided a transport hub, equipment support and life support for around 30,000 troops and civilians people at its height.

Supply chains linking factory floors in the UK to the workshop or accommodation tent brought in everything from batteries to chicken nuggets, spare parts to diesel fuel.

A water bottling plant run by civilian contractors produced millions of litres drinking water and Bastion’s hospital became famous for its standards of trauma care. For their downtime troops could enjoy entertainment and welfare facilities, gyms and even an education centre, with bus services to link up the 20 square-mile camp. Bastion even boasted a fully functioning TV and radio station.

Communications ranged from secure tactical radios to welfare phones linking troops to their families to a headquarters full of networked computers were also set up and maintained.

All of this effort was required to keep a single brigade of fighting troops operating in Helmand Province.

As for the other Armed Forces, every time a Royal Navy warship goes on patrol to the Gulf of south Atlantic or an RAF squadron deploys abroad for expeditionary training, the same effort goes into supporting Servicepeople.

Generals from Napoleon to Omar Bradley have been accredited with the quote: “Amateurs talk about tactics, professionals talk about logistics.”

Whether they are in a waterfront naval base, a regimental depot in Aldershot or abroad, people’s requirements don’t stop. Wherever they serve, from desert to arctic conditions, the everyday needs of our Service men and women are supported by industry, through the MOD procurement and supply chain.

DPRTE 2020

The Defence supply and support procurement sector in the UK is worth £20 billion industry a year annually. One of the most prominent defence procurement and supply chain event in the UK, bringing military logisiticians, procurement civil servants, global companies and SMEs together is due to happen on 3rd September in Farnborough, Hampshire.

Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) is a one-day event offering an unrivalled opportunity for defence sector personnel to engage with organisations of all sizes across industry.

DPRTE Managing Director Simon Burges said: “This event is all about bringing buyers and suppliers together across the defence acquisition supply chain, dealing with anything from uniforms to education services provision, enhancing knowledge, sharing best practice and showcasing innovation.”

Dispelling an “arms fair” myth

The exhibition hall will host six zones: Equipment and supplies; Prime Contractor and Supply Chain; Technology and Innovation; Export and Business Growth, Procurement Skills and Infrastructure and Estates.

However, one element of military procurement that visitors will not find at DPRTE is weaponry.

“What we are not is an arms fair,” explained Simon. “Over years there’s been a misunderstanding of what DPRTE is about, particularly by anti-war groups. You won’t see any weapons systems on display at DPRTE.”

“No-one supports war but when it becomes necessary for our Armed Forces to defend British people and interests abroad, they deserve the best support possible, whether that’s safe accommodation, suitable protective clothing or proper welfare facilities.”

Larger than ever – and growing

DPRTE is officially supported by key UK MOD procurement organisations including DE&S and DIO and some of the world’s largest prime contractors are expected to have a presence at the event as exhibitors and sponsors.

DPRTE 2020 is expected to be 50% bigger than last year, this growth being driven both by an increase both in visitor numbers and in the number of exhibitors’ stands and the exhibition’s footprint. More than 1500 delegates representing industry, academia and top UK MOD decision makers in the Defence sector.

Keynote speakers

There will also be a full programme of high-profile speakers at the event.

Keynote speakers include Ruth Todd, Commercial Director of the UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency, Andrew Forzani, Chief Commercial Officer for the UK Ministry of Defence and motivational speaker Colonel Tim Colins OBE are also being hotly anticipated.

DPRTE 2020 offers a unique platform for buyers, suppliers and service support providers of all sizes to engage across a range of interactive and educational features to enhance knowledge, collaboration and develop business opportunities.

Defence Online is the official media partner of DPRTE 2020.