Businesses engage first-hand with local MP

he conversation brought together businesses in Healey’s constituency and the wider business community together to explore the opportunities and challenges linked to defence, economic growth and the region’s business environment.

Supply Chains and Defence was a frequent topic in the room, with businesses of all sizes applauding the uptick in defence investment but requesting better access to procurement opportunities. With the recent South Yorkshire Defence Deal, and the opportunities it may create, businesses pushed for more clarity on how the initiative will create tangible procurement routes and supplier support.

Dan Fell, chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, said, “A consistent message from our business community is that access to defence and public‑sector procurement remains more complex than it needs to be. For the South Yorkshire Defence Deal to realise its full economic potential, procurement pathways must be made clearer and accessible to firms of all sizes. The Chamber will continue to advocate for a procurement environment that is navigable, proportionate, and that has the aim of matching agile and entrepreneurial SMEs with the government’s strategic aims.

Carrie Sudbury, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, added, “Our region has deep roots in defence-linked manufacturing, and that heritage remains a real economic strength. However, businesses were honest about the sensitivities involved and the need to bring communities with us. With the right communication, transparency and support, South Yorkshire can both honour its history and build a modern, responsible and inclusive defence economy.”

With the economic pressures seen across South Yorkshire in the QES, businesses and charities in the room also discussed broader issues, including suppressed confidence, regulatory barriers, and the need for the region to improve its performance in relation to inward investment.