Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK based Start-up businesses have contacted his Department in the past 12 months seeking to inquire on or bid for defence related work.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold centrally recorded data on the number of UK-based start-up businesses that have contacted the Department in the last 12 months to enquire about, or bid for, defence-related work. A "start-up" is not a category routinely captured within the Department's supplier or engagement systems, and businesses engage with Defence through a wide range of channels, including correspondence, meetings, supplier engagement events, trade shows, webinars and online platforms. In addition, unsuccessful bidders are not recorded by company growth stage, and therefore the Department cannot provide a reliable figure.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving access for small and innovative businesses. In January 2026, the Defence Office for Small Business Growth was established to help reduce barriers to entry, simplify engagement with Defence, and support non-traditional suppliers and start-ups seeking to work with the Department.