Photo: Tiger LilyBritish businesses have the opportunity to take part in a new initiative to map the UK’s critical supply capability — and put their expertise in front of Government, public operators, Tier One contractors and other major buyers. The initiative will help strengthen the resilience and readiness of supply chains that underpin everyday life.
The UK Supply Survey, led by the
Critical Supply Group (CSG), is now open for responses. The rapid survey will map UK supply capability — including areas of sovereign capability — across the UK’s 13 designated Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors, including energy, defence, transport and health. It will provide insight into where British companies support critical systems and where capability can be further developed.
The survey will also highlight opportunities for greater domestic participation and support major buyers in reviewing their sourcing strategies in response to increasing global supply chain pressures. Recent global events have underlined the vulnerability of supply chains, with input costs and availability subject to sudden disruption. As a result, organisations are reassessing where their goods and services come from, with growing attention on both domestic capability and trusted international partners.
The survey’s findings will be published in a national report, providing an overview of UK expertise and identifying opportunities for growth across critical sectors. The report will also raise the profile of participating businesses, with their details (subject to consent) made available to procurement and supply chain teams across major buying organisations. In addition, the survey will explore how organisations are strengthening their resilience and which regions they perceive as offering the most secure and reliable sources of supply.
Exposed supply chainsGeorge Middleton, convenor of the CSG and director of
MAP UK & International, said: “Recent and ongoing events — including the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and wider geopolitics — have shown how exposed supply chains can be and why greater visibility, resilience and preparedness are so important.
“The UK Supply Survey is designed to respond to that challenge, giving businesses — particularly SMEs — a simple way to demonstrate what they do and connects buyers and suppliers across sectors. This is not about protectionism. Strong supply chains depend on free and open trade, supported by stronger relationships and a clearer understanding of capability across both UK and international markets.”
British businesses from all sectors are encouraged to take part in the survey
here. It takes around 3-8min to complete online and will run until 21 May, with findings published in June and shared with Government, public operators and major industry buyers.
CSG is a business-led, cross-sector alliance engaging more than 3,100 companies across 14 CNI sectors and multiple countries. Managed by MAP UK & International that delivers strategic trade and supply solutions, the CSG is supported by strategic partners including
Made in Britain.
John Pearce, Made in Britain’s CEO, said: “British businesses play a vital role in keeping the nation running, supplying essential products and resources that are relied on by every sector of the economy, but there are major opportunities for that to go further. Conflict, shipping crises, as well as trade tariffs, cyber threats and climate change are all threatening the international supply chains that our economy relies on.
“If we can be more strategic in our trading relationships and build better connections between British manufacturers and key sectors, we can shore up our domestic capabilities and put our economy on a far more robust footing. I believe this survey will help British companies to demonstrate their value and forge better connections with other sectors in recognition of their world-class capabilities.”