Introduction
As we come to the end of another challenging year we begin looking forward to the many events and activities that we have planned for 2022. The new year kicks off with the hybrid Support Chain Seminar (SCS) on 12-13 January where we will join senior keynote speakers from across MOD DE&S, industry, and academia discussing the theme “Delivering Support Through Partnering in the Digital Age”. Places are limited so book your tickets on the TD-Info website (more details below).
Until then we hope everyone manages to celebrate the festive season with family/friends and we wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
New Team Member
Colin Rowlands has recently joined the TD-Info Task Team. Colin joins us from Shamal Solutions where he worked as a Training and Development Specialist utilizing his engineering knowledge and experience gained working in the defence industry and British Army (REME).
New Lead Sponsors
We are pleased to announce that Capgemini and Salesforce are now Lead Sponsors of TD-Info; Capgemini provides consulting, technology services, and digital transformation across the defence sector; and Salesforce provides customer relationship management (CRM) services and enterprise applications focused on customer service, marketing automation, and data analytics.
New Members – Member Updates
We are also pleased to announce that Project4 Learning Lab and Amethyst Risk are new Members of TD-Info; Project4 Learning Lab help organisations improve performance by accelerating their decision making and speed of learning; and Amethyst Risk is a leading provider of cyber security support and expertise, and a quick update on IMD Group, from 1 December 2021 the business name has changed to VIMA Group.
Future Events
Support Chain Seminar (SCS) – 12-13 January 2022 – “Delivering Support Through Partnering in the Digital Age”
Accelerating the delivery of defence digital support solutions has never been so important or dependent on collaborating with industry partners. SCS provides the opportunity for the ‘Team Defence’ community to hear, first-hand, how Defence is exploiting exciting new technologies to deliver world-class Support and collaboratively achieve the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) 2025 Strategy goals.
SCS is a 2-day hybrid event jointly hosted by DE&S and TD-Info. The Conference will take place, in person, at Aerospace Bristol and live online. Registration is now open with discounted tickets for TD-Info Members and MOD free of charge. Places are limited, so book early!
We have a packed Programme with senior speakers from across the MOD, industry, and academia including (subject to change):
- Sir Simon Bollom, CEO, DE&S
- Adrian Baguley, MOD DG Strategic Enablers and Deputy CEO, DE&S
- Lt Gen Richard Wardlaw, MOD Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS)
- Roger West, Dir Logistics and Support Operating Centre (LSOC), DE&S
- Andrew Forzani, MOD Director General Commercial
- Maj Gen Robin Anderton Brown, UK Strat Com Cap Dir
- RAdm Jim Higham, Director Ships Support, DE&S
- AVM Richard Hill, MOD Strat Com, Dir Support Transformation
- Prof John Erkoyuncu, Cranfield University
- Malcolm Lee, Group Head Innovation and Technology, Babcock International
- Dr Nira Chamberlain, Atkins
Thank you to our event sponsors Babcock and Leidos (Gold), tlmNexus and TVS (Silver), Rina, Camcode, PEGA Systems and IFS (Bronze) plus valued support from Fujitsu and Kahootz. 4 MOD Teams are exhibiting along with BMT, Whitetree, Arke, Oracle and Allan Webb. Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities are available, please contact Sue Russell for more information on packages and pricing.
“Ask Me Anything” Webinars
We continue the series of monthly Ask Me Anything (AMA) webinars that have been highly informative and extremely well received by Team Defence Information Members. Register for the forthcoming free webinars using the links below:
• 7 December 2021 – Data: Autonomous Systems
• 18 January 2022 – Cloud
• 9 February 2022 – Cyber: Secure by Design & Resilience
If you would like further information on these events please contact Luca Leone.
Team Defence developing support for MOD DE&S Future Capability Group (FCG)
TD-Info continues to actively support and assist the FCG in kick-starting key initiatives identified jointly by DE&S and MOD Front Line Commands (FLCs). A recent example of the TD-Info and FCG growing collaboration was in supporting the Expeditionary Robotics Centre of Expertise (ERCoE) Remote Autonomous Systems Power Workshop at the Defence BattleLab in Dorset during November. Numerous military power topics were covered with presentations followed by industry static demonstrations; many wider industry engagements were triggered around options for motive power and hydrogen fuel as a direct result of the event.
These activities build upon the new approach outlined in the FCG Open Innovation Laboratory (OIL) Industry Engagement Strategy released in July 2021. TD-Info and the FCG will be meeting in the new year to develop the roadmap for future opportunities in 2022. If you would like more information on the FCG please contact either Steve Green or Darin Tudor.
Defence Support Data Sub Working Group (SWG) – Digital Decision Making Conference – 20 January 2022
On 20 Jan 2002, the TD-Info Defence Support Data SWG will be hosting the Digital Decision Making Conference in partnership with MOD and the University of Lincoln. The Conference is a physical event being held at the University of Lincoln to showcase recent academic research, generate open discussion, and identify potential practice, process, and technology to improve Digital Decision Making that will reduce supply chain risk and increase resilience. Register here to book your place. For further information contact Steve Green.
Sustainable Defence Support Sub Working Group (SWG) – 16 February 2022
The next meeting of the TD-Info Sustainable Defence Support SWG will be a physical event held at the Unipart HQ, Cowley, on 16 Feb 2022. The SWG will share sustainability experience from across sectors and continue development of the Sustainable Support Strategy (SSS), building upon the recent White Paper and taking direction from both the MOD Defence Support Strategy and MOD Defence Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach.
The SWG will be a physical event with limited spaces available; please register to avoid disappointment. For further information contact Steve Green.
DIO Sustainability Workshops Planned for Q1 2022
Between now and spring 2022, the TD-Info Research Technology and Innovation community will be supporting Mark Hill, MOD DIO Sustainability Lead, with a range of joint MOD and Industry Workshops. A series of one day workshops, co-chaired by MOD and Industry representatives, will be held in January, February and March 2022 (dates to be confirmed) covering the following topics:
• Net Zero New build & Net Zero Legacy
• Climate Resilience in the estate & Sustainability in food and water
• Driving emission out of Supply Chain & Enabling Cultural Change
Full details of the workshops and registration will be available soon. Please note attendance will be physical only and numbers limited by the size of the venue; places will be allocated on first come first serve basis and limited to one person per organisation.
If you would like to join the community and receive up to date information please contact Steve Green or Colin Rowlands.
Multi Domain Integration (MDI) Working Group (WG) Update
Since being formed in July, the TD-Info MDI WG has successfully held 8 ‘Deep Dive’ sessions and 3 spotlight workshops involving over 190 people highlighting 60+ areas of interest. The MDI WG recently provided an update to Members and MOD senior representatives on the output of these sessions and confirmed the continuing key themes (Design and Architecture, Leadership, Operator Centric Viewpoint) and alignment with MOD strategies (IR, DSIS, Defence Command Plan and DSS). The MDI WG is currently compiling a Conclusion Report (due January 2022) and is planning a Seminar in Q1 2022.
We encourage TD-Info Members from across Industry and MOD with relevant experience and knowledge to join us and get involved. If you would like more information, please contact Steve Worsnip.
ASD-STE-100 Simplified Technical English® (STE) Training Planned for 2022
TD-Info will deliver STE courses early in 2022 by Ciaran Dodd, our AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) approved STE trainer. The exact dates will be on the website soon. If you are interested and would like details, please email TD-Info here.
Defence Information 2022 (DI22) – 8-9 June 2022
Put a place in your diary for the next DI22 Conference that will be jointly hosted by TD-Info and MOD Defence Digital. This will be a 2-day hybrid event held at the Active Conference Centre, Thornbury, nr Bristol and remotely on-line. Senior keynote speakers from MOD will present strategic topics and join panel discussions with representatives from across industry and academia. We will also be inviting contributions for the prestigious Excellence Awards. Further details of the event and registration and sponsorship opportunties will be available soon. If you would like further information, please contact Steve Shepherd (Content) or Sue Russell (Sponsorship/Exhibiting).
Additive Manufacture Governance
Alongside the CDLS Additive Manufacture Challenge, MOD wish to establish Governance to develop process, practice and standards overcoming common challenges that exist with wider servitisation of Additive Manufacturing Capabilities.
Co-Chaired by MOD and Industry facilitated by TD-Info these Governance groups will cover Logistics, Digital Thread, Commercial & IPR and Certification. Initial meetings to provide additional information, agree ToRs and establish membership will take place in the New Year. If you would like to contribute to establishment of Defence wide enablement of Additive Manufacturing Capabilities then register to attend:
• Certification WG – Monday 17 Jan – 13:30 – 15:00 Register
• Logistics WG – Tuesday 18 Jan – 15:00 – 16:30 Register
• Digital Thread WG – Wednesday 19 Jan TBC
• Commercial & IPR TBC
The MOD Co-Chairs have already been identified volunteers from industry are still required. Co-chairs from each group will convene to form an Executive Group.
Alignment with wider Additive Manufacture across defence will continue through the Additive Manufacture SWG and the Defence Support Force Development Board.
Recent Events
Defence Fuels and Sustainable Energy Conference 2021
TD-Info and MOD recently hosted the Defence Fuels and Sustainable Energy Conference 2021 where senior leaders and decision makers from across the Defence & Energy sectors joined MOD to discuss how best to achieve the goals of the Future Energy Strategy and achieve the Net Zero (NZ) targets that are now enshrined in law. The Conference was opened by Lt Gen Richard Wardlaw OBE (CDLS) with key notes from James Clare (Director Climate Change and Sustainability) and James Baker (Petroleum Industry Alliance). Thanks to our main sponsors World Fuels, Leidos, Rolls Royce and Jacobs in supporting an excellent event. If you would more information on this topic or future events, please contact Steve Green.
Digital Twin Deep Dive Sessions
Throughout November the Defence Support Digital Twin Community of Practice (DSDTCoP) held a series of Digital Twin ‘Deep Dive’ sessions to discuss various topics of interest including: Future Test and Evaluation; Supply Chain; Multi Domain Operations; In-Service Engineering Support; and Engineering & Safety. If you would like more information on these sessions or joining the DSDTCoP, please contact Steve Green.
Counter Terrorism Training Now Available
The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) is offering free on-line Counter Terrorism training for all staff and members of Team Defence Information, techUK, and ADS.
The ACT Awareness e-Learning provided by NaCTSO is an award-wining, innovative training course on the role we can all play to prevent terrorism, learn how to identify security vulnerabilities, respond to suspicious items or activity, and what to do in the event of an attack. To register your organisation and access the e-Learning click here.Further protective security guidance can also be found on the NaCTSO and Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) websites.
Industry Feedback on Support Solutions Envelope (SSE) 21
Following the Strategic Command Defence Support presentation at DSEI 2021, TD-Info and its industry partners have produced a document which provides feedback and addresses the three questions raised regarding Improving Support Solutions for Defence SSE21:
• Are we soliciting the right behaviours and support from Industry? Will this approach embed a ‘Through Life’ approach?
• Does this approach reflect the industry approach? What are the unintended consequences? What should we consider changing now to avoid such an effect?
• Does our approach show a good understanding/consideration of the needs of industry in delivering Defence goals
In addition, the document identifies considerations and recommendations concerning Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) implementation. The report is available to TD-Info Members to download here (sign-in required). For further information please email Craig Porter.
TD-Info Calendar of Events for 2021
We have a packed and varied calendar of events planned for the forthcoming months. Please check the TD-Info website Calendar here to confirm details and how to join as these are subject to change.
Non TD-Info Events
South-West Regional Defence & Security Cluster (SW RDSC) – RN and USN Technology Development – 15 December 2021
The SW RDSC is planning a presentation and discussion with the London Tech Bridge which will touch on Royal Navy and US Navy Technology and development ‘at the edge’. If you would like more details, please contact Victoria Glennon.
COVID-19 – TD-Info Remote Working
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the TD-Info administrative staff continue to work remotely; postal mail is only collected periodically. With this in mind, please use email as primary form of correspondence should you need to contact our admin or finance department.