Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit HMS Severn in Harwich, meet her crew and tour the ship.
It was particularly significant to see a Royal Navy ship back in Harwich, and to hear directly from the Navy about the changing nature of the threats facing the UK.
From Russian naval activity and the security of our shipping routes, to protecting the undersea cables and infrastructure that carry so much of our data and communications, the challenges we face are evolving rapidly.
But the visit also got me thinking about something closer to home: what role can Essex businesses play?
A changing Navy needs new capabilities
The Royal Navy is moving towards an increasingly hybrid force, combining traditional ships and highly skilled personnel with autonomous systems, drones, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, data and other rapidly developing technologies.
That creates opportunities well beyond businesses that might traditionally consider themselves part of the defence industry.
Essex has a huge breadth of capability across engineering, advanced manufacturing, technology, communications, logistics and maritime industries.
There will be businesses across our county developing technologies, products and expertise that could have defence applications, but which may never have considered themselves defence businesses.
I want to help change that.
Opening the door for Essex businesses
We need to make it easier for businesses to understand what defence needs, how procurement works, where the opportunities are and, crucially, how they can get involved.
That is why I will be hosting a defence session here in Essex, bringing together businesses and organisations that want to contribute with those who can help them understand and navigate opportunities within defence.
I want this to be practical.
It should not simply be another discussion about defence. It should be a chance to start building the connections that could help Essex businesses play a meaningful part in developing the UK’s future defence capability.
Get involved
If you run or work with an Essex business that has technology, products, skills or expertise that could contribute to defence, I would like to hear from you.
To register your interest in joining the session, contact office@mckinlayformayor.org.
The threats facing the UK are changing. The Navy is changing with them.
Essex businesses should have the opportunity to be part of what comes next.