Delivering for defence: A view from the construction front line

Delivering for defence: A view from the construction front line

Working in the defence sector brings a unique set of challenges that demand more than technical competence. In this latest blog, Paul Crossland shares some of the collective key learnings our teams working in the defence sector.

As someone who’s been in the thick of it - boots on the ground, hard hat on - I can tell you it’s a world where precision, trust, and discretion aren’t just buzzwords, they’re part of the job.

At Morgan Sindall Construction, we’ve had our fair share of experience delivering projects for the defence sector. Whether it’s building secure facilities in a live environment, or working airside under tight protocols, understanding the operational environment is key. You’ve got to know the context, the people and the purpose.

One thing that makes a big difference is how we’re set up. Being a geographically decentralised business has always meant that we can be responsive to the unique needs of our local clients, with particular focus on their wider communities and creating long-term social value. But when it comes to defence, we often pull together our resource nationally to share what works and what doesn’t, a wealth of thinking and collaboration that benefits our defence clients’ long-term goals and helps us to deliver smarter.

Security is baked into everything we do. We’ve got a solid team - including our Head of Security and fellow colleagues at Morgan Sindall Group business at BakerHicks - making sure we stay compliant. It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about keeping people and information safe.

Defence projects usually come with a long list of stakeholders - from the DIO to the end users on the ground. We’ve found that getting everyone engaged early makes a world of difference. Our Perfect Delivery approach helps keep things on track, with clear roles, one point of contact, and processes that align with MOD standards.

We also lean on digital construction and technology to help us deliver better. Utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) for planning complex site logistics, and tools like Gamma AR to visualise designs in real time, which helps us to work with clients and consultants across the project to spot issues before they become problems. It’s all about reducing risk and making smarter collaborative decisions. Using technology as part of our efforts to decarbonise defence estates is also key component of our offer – Using CarboniCa we’ve removed nearly 4,000 tonnes of carbon from our defence sector projects alone and made tangible progress towards the MOD’s net zero goals and objective to achieve a more sustainable defence estate.

Cost is always a factor, especially with public money. But we’ve learned that cheapest isn’t always best. By getting involved early, we can help shape briefs that meet the needs of the people using the buildings. Sometimes that means a complex refurbishment across an existing estate or rationalising spaces to create something new.

Our supply chain is a big part of our success. We pay on time, we vet carefully, and we make sure our sites are good places to work. New measures proposed by the UK government to boost small businesses in the defence sector means that we’re working to bring more SMEs into the fold to bring new ideas and create a sustainable defence supply chain, something crucial to the success of the sector.

Beyond the technical delivery, we’re proud to support the people behind the projects. We were thrilled achieve our Gold accreditation recently as part of the Armed Forces Covenant. Our partnerships with organisations like BuildForce continue to thrive and offer opportunity for service leavers and veterans to gain experience in the construction sector.

Defence work might not always be visible, but its impact is real. And for those of us delivering it, there’s a real sense of pride in knowing we’re helping to support the UK’s defence capability - now and for the future.