Critical Supply Group meets to strengthen UK supply chains by reducing the gap between policy and practice

Photo: CSG Co-Chair George Middleton and Chair Baroness Gisela Stuart at the CSG Roundtable in July 2026

• Supply chain leaders meet to discuss strengthening critical supply chains through greater alignment between government policy with business practices
• Companies had the opportunity to engage with government on latest supply chain-related policy and programming, and offer recommendations on how industry and government can work better together
• For more information on ways to engage via the CSG’s 2026/27 programme and to discuss specific supply chain priorities, please contact CSG via: info@mapukinternational.com

The Critical Supply Group met earlier this month to increase the understanding between leading companies and the UK Government, focusing on government policy and business practice directly connected to strengthening the resilience and readiness of the UK’s critical supply chains.

The meeting, chaired by Baroness Gisela Stuart, brought together supply chain leaders in companies across multiple CNI sectors and the UK Government, as well as academics, industry bodies and other key stakeholders.

It included a presentation by the Department for Business and Trade on the UK Supply Chain Centre.

The UK and countries around the world are increasingly focused on the supply of critical inputs (including raw materials and rare earth elements), goods and services that are essential to a country’s needs.

Key recommendations that arose from the discussion included:

• The UK needs for more strategic leadership on critical supply chains and resilience.
• More focus should be given to critical sectors and resilience, aside growth sectors.
• Strategic public procurement can more effectively used to strengthen the UK’s resilience.
• Making the UK business environment more competitive is an underlying priority.
• Global partnerships and securing trading relationships are an essential component of the UK supply resilience.

Participants included representatives of the following entities: AstraZeneca, Becton Dickinson (BD), BSW Group, the Charted Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Ethypharm, Made in Britain, Maersk, MAP UK & International, the National Preparedness Commission, Octopus Energy, RLC UK, Sizewell C, Vodafone and Wilton Park, as well as the UK’s Cabinet Office and Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

CSG is ​a business-led, cross-sector alliance of companies and professionals working together to strengthen critical supply chains, in the UK and internationally. It delivers with the support of strategic partners, members and collaborators. It is managed by MAP UK & International with support from Strategic Partners including Babcock, Made in Britain and Wilton Park.

For more details, including how to get involved, or to make contact with any of the entities involved, please email info@mapukinternational.com.

Notes:

CSG is managed by:

MAP UK & International – Strategic supply chain and international trade specialists:

www.mapukinternational.com

It is convened with the support of:

Wilton Park – Executive agency of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office:

www.wiltonpark.org.uk

Made in Britain – Independent, industry body representing 2,200+ UK manufacturing companies:

www.madeinbritain.org

Babcock – UK-based international company providing support and product solutions to enhance customers’ defence capabilities and critical assets:

www.babcockinternational.com