Logo with the letters 'Navy Leaders' in bold white font on a transparent background, with a short red horizontal line beneath it.

Small Business Focus Day 2026

21 May 2026 | Combined Naval Event

A dedicated platform connecting SMEs and start-ups with defence Procurement, Primes, Investors and opportunities across the UK and Europe.

Join the Cohort

What is the Small Business Focus Day?

NEW FOR 2026 – The Small Business Focus Day at CNE is a dedicated, high-impact one-day event designed to connect start-ups and SMEs with the people, knowledge, and opportunities needed to succeed in the defence sector.

With UK defence spending on SMEs set to rise significantly by 2028, this is your opportunity to engage directly with:

  • Defence primes
  • UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)
  • Naval leaders
  • Investors and venture capital
  • Trade bodies and innovation accelerators

Programme Highlights

Selling to Defence
09:30 - 11:00

  • Understand procurement processes
  • Identify key decision-makers
  • Align your solution with defence priorities
  • Learn how to position your business for success
 
Panelists include:

Jim Carter, Director General Commercial and Industry, MOD NAD Group

Office for Small Business Growth, UK Ministry of Defence

Charlie Davies, Head of Defence Commercial, ADS

Selling to Primes
11:15 - 12:45

  • Engage effectively with major defence contractors
  • Discover partnership models and qualification routes
  • Match your technology to real programme needs
 
Hear from: 

BAE Systems

Babcock

Navantia

Securing Investment
14:00 - 15:30

  • Position your business for defence-focused investors
  • Learn what VCs are looking for
  • Build relationships that unlock capital


Panelists include:

Defence Investors Advisory Group, UK Ministry of Defence

Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Senior Partner, NATO Innovation Fund

Aimie Stone, Chief Economist, ADS

Participation

The Small Business Cohort will enjoy a comprehensive package that allows member companies to optimise the opportunity that CNE 2026 provides for collaboration, strategic advice, investment and lead generation.

Naval Personnel & Government Representatives

Uniformed naval and military personnel, along with civilian government representatives, are invited to attend all three days of CNE, including any Small Business Focus Day activities, free of charge.

Free

Register Here

Industry Procurement & Investment Professionals

Industry trade bodies, venture capital and private equity partners, and representatives from accelerators and incubators are invited, for the first time, to participate in the dedicated Small Business Focus Day, free of charge.

Free

Register Here

SMEs and Start-Ups

For small defence companies that are not already exhibiting at or sponsoring CNE 2026, a select cohort of start-ups and SMEs will be invited to join the CNE Small Business Cohort 2026 and participate in the dedicated Small Business Focus Day.

From £100

Apply

Expect to meet

Red rectangular logo of BAE Systems with bold white uppercase letters centered, conveying a professional and authoritative tone.
Babcock - New Logo Sq
"Logo of Navantia featuring two stylized blue waves above the company name in bold blue font on a plain white background, conveying a nautical theme."
Skyral-Logo
MissionLink
ADS (1)
SMI (Non Exhibitor Logo)
NATO Innovation Fund New Sq Logo
NADG New Sq Logo
Logo of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., featuring bold navy text and a stylized arrow symbol within an oval, conveying a modern, technical tone.
TKMS Sq
The image shows the logo of Cohort PLC with bold red and gray text. "COHORT" is red, "PLC" is gray, and the tagline "The Independent Technology Group" is beneath.
Red square with a gold monogram and crown above, featuring ornate lettering. Below, the word "KONGSBERG" is in bold, blue capital letters.
Logo of Kraken Robotics features a stylized black octopus with swirling tentacles, a red eye, and the bold text "KRAKEN ROBOTICS" below.
SAAB 2026
The image shows the logo of SH Defence, featuring bold black letters "SH" followed by blue-grey text "DEFENCE" with stylized lines, conveying strength.
Blue text reading "ULTRA MARITIME" in a sleek, modern font on a white background, conveying a sense of innovation and professionalism.
Blue text reads "GENERAL DYNAMICS" with "Mission Systems" in smaller font below. Modern, corporate logo on a white background.
MBDA Logo
Elbit Systems Deutschland Sq
IAI (1)
Bold, dark blue "AIRBUS" text on a white background, conveying a sense of modernity and precision associated with the aerospace industry.
The image features the Anduril logo in black, with a geometric symbol resembling an abstract shield followed by the word "ANDURIL" in bold letters.
L3Harris Logo
Logo in blue text reads "Lockheed Martin" with a stylized star and aerodynamic lines on the right, conveying a sense of innovation and aerospace technology.
Northrop Grumman logo in bold blue text with a sleek, angular line extending from the top right, conveying a modern and professional tone.
A logo with the letters "N.V.L" in bold, black font, separated by dots, sits above a thin teal underline. The background is plain white.

Contacts

RAdm (Ret’d) James Parkin CB CBE

Small Business Focus Day Chairman

james.parkin@defenceleaders.com

Sebastian Britton

Working Group Curator

sebastian@defenceleaders.com

Smiling man in a suit and tie stands in a blurred conference or exhibition hall. The atmosphere is professional and welcoming.

Arthur Rogers

Start-up and SME Engagement

arthur@defenceleaders.com

Scott Wilson

Start-up and SME Engagement

scott@defenceleaders.com

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a cream coat stands in a brightly lit indoor setting. Blurred background suggests an event or conference.

Tia Meddins

Start-up and SME Engagement

tia@defenceleaders.com

For Start-ups

You should:

  • Be solely UK based
  • Fewer than 10 employees
  • Be a first-time visitor to CNE
  • Have a working prototype
  • Be a member of or associated with a Defence-focussed innovation incubator, a recognised trade body (eg ADS, SMI, MakeUK), accelerator (DASA, DIANA), or Defence Investment community (eg UK DIN).
 

You’ll receive:

  • One pass to attend the CNE Small Business Focus Day on 21st May 2026
  • Priority registration for the dedicated SME working group sessions.
  • Access to the CNE Exhibition
  • Option to upgrade to attend the full three days of CNE at a heavily subsidised rate.
 

Participation fee: £100 per organisation

Apply

For SMEs

You should:

  • Have a UK facility/office
  • Fewer than 50 employees
  • Have not exhibited at CNE previously
  • Have deployed solutions or been awarded a UK government contract
  • Be a member of a recognised trade body (eg ADS, SMI), or recommended by innovation incubator (MissionLink) or accelerator (DASA, DIANA).
 

You’ll receive:

  • Two passes to attend the CNE Small Business Focus Day on 21st May 2026
  • Priority registration for the dedicated SME working group sessions
  • A display position (table and space for roller banner) in the SME Small Business Showcase in the Central Networking Zone.
  • Inclusion in a dedicated SME editorial feature published in advance of CNE 2026 that showcases the 2026 Cohort.
  • Option to upgrade to attend the full three days of CNE at a heavily subsidised rate.
 

Participation fee: £500 per organisation

Apply

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FOr Start-ups

Name(Required)
Is your company UK Based?(Required)
Do you have fewer than 10 employees?(Required)
Has your company previously visited CNE?(Required)
Do you have a working prototype of your solution?(Required)
Is your company associated with or recognised by(Required)

FOr SME's

Name(Required)
Does your company have a UK facility/office?(Required)
Do you have fewer than 50 employees?(Required)
Has your company previously exhibited at CNE?(Required)
Does your company have a deployed solution or been awarded a UK Government Contract?(Required)
Is your company associated with or recognised by(Required)