Incubation model: Supporting SME success
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make significant long term social, community and economic contributions to both Defence Industry and the Australian economy.
But their entry into defence industry, and the ability to grow sustainably, isn’t an assured path even for a well-established business.
Tune in to the Podcast
Defence Connect did a deep dive into Downer Defence’s SME Incubation model to better understanding the thinking, the lessons learned that are relevant to all contractors, and the continual improvements that have shaped a robust model delivering results that serve the customer, the SME and the community.
The incubation model
$300 million spend on SMEs in 2022
As an Australian company, and the third largest Prime in Defence industry, Downer Defence invests significantly in supporting the growth and success of SMEs, developing a thriving SME ecosystem that is positioned to more effectively enable our Defence Force.
Developed over years of work with SMEs, the above incubation model outlines a proven process for Primes to effectively support SME success by building SME capability and capacity. Refined over numerous iterations and some hard lessons learned, the model identifies barriers, growth opportunities, and areas where a Prime or larger organisation can support SMEs through their early defence industry journey – with consideration of the SMEs’ aspirations. An iteration of a well-established business life cycle, the model has helped Downer Defence achieve some major breakthroughs, including:
Reduced SME onboarding time by >50%
The model identifies four key phases and the ways that Primes can support their successful transition through these phases. It provides a framework for Primes to work with SMEs to better understand their unique challenges, aspirations, and business goals.
The importance of partnership – SMEs have their say!
Join Downer Defence’s Supply Chain
Australia’s largest sovereign Prime partners with over 900 Australian small and medium enterprises. For over 80 years Downer Defence has been proudly supporting the Australian Defence Force, providing them with truly sovereign solutions, innovations, and thought leadership across a breadth of technical & professional services; program management of defence base redevelopments & upgrades, and the delivery of integrated facility and asset management across the Defence estate.
Explore the fantastic array of work that we do with support from our SMEs every day and register your interest to partner with us…