Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has launched a new pilot program designed to supercharge the commercial and business acumen of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to increase their ability to engage with the Australian Defence industry and enter export opportunities for the first time.
Through its participation in the Global Supply Chain Program, Babcock is fully funding nine West Australian-based SMEs (EXTAG, Allship Engineering, Cooper Fluid Systems, Onetide, Critical Infrastructure Technologies, Global Coating Systems, Dobbie, Andvare VI Defence Industries and FUZE) to progress through a commercial training program run by World Commerce and Contracting (WCC). The 12-month program includes learning modules such as commercial awareness, business ethics, relationships in business and managing contracts.
In addition to funding the SMEs through the program, Babcock is also backing two staff from the Defence Teaming Centre, an industry association focused on growing and scaling Australia’s defence sector, so the organisation can better support its key stakeholders.
Babcock Australasia Global Supply Chain Program Manager Kellie Jenkins said:
“SMEs play a vital role in delivering projects of national significance now and in the years and decades to come. Babcock’s pilot program will supercharge their commercial and business knowledge to help give them the tools, insights and connections they need to compete and thrive in the Defence industry.
“We work closely with more than 700 Australian organisations nation-wide, leveraging their expertise to meet national Defence requirements while also supporting their ability to innovate, grow and create more jobs in their local communities.
“By helping to uplift SME commercial capability, we’re supporting the growth of a supply chain that is agile, competitive and ready to support Australia’s Defence needs into the future.”
The pilot program forms part of Babcock’s broader commitment to strengthening sovereign Defence capability and uplifting more SMEs into the industry through local and international export opportunities. In February and March, Babcock delivered the first iteration of a nation-wide Defence Industry Engagement Series to connect local suppliers with current and emerging Defence opportunities in Townsville, Brisbane, Adelaide and Henderson, Western Australia.