3CDSG is a not-for-profit organisation, run by volunteers, which was created in 2014 to significantly raise the commercial and industrial capacity of the defence and security sector across the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

The region is reputed to be the location of c.90% of SMEs involved in technology and innovation in the Defence & Security Industry. The Group however now has a national reach but retains its HQ base in Hereford.

3CDSG President, Richard Morgan, Partner and Head of Defence, Security & the Forces at Top 70 law firm, Harrison Clark Rickerbys (hcr), initiated 3CDSG to provide an enhanced opportunity for business development, connections and conversations.

Connections

3CDSG provides an industry-specific platform to connect SMEs and organisations in the defence and security sector, creating opportunities to collaborate and identify partnerships and joint ventures.

With such a dynamic Industry Group, collective engagement significantly raises the commercial and industrial capacity of this niche and specialist sector which not only benefits Group members but also the wider defence and security community.

Business Development Support & Advice

More widely with the diverse nature of the Group, members can benefit from wider Commercial, Legal and HR Advice; Mentoring; Tendering Support – especially for MOD contracts; Intellectual property advice, protection and development; Risk management and Lobbying collectively (strength and depth),

Events

Seminars and Networking

The Group meets twice yearly in-person, and supplements this with online seminars approx quarterly.

Three Counties Defence & Security Expo (3CDSE) www.3cdse.co.uk is our showcase event which takes place this year on 2 & 3 November 2022. 

Day One: We host the MOD Special Projects’ Defence, Security & Equipment (DE&S) and Strategic Command (UK StratCom) teams’ Industry Day, held at security classification ‘Secret’. 

In the evening MOD teams host tables at the 3CDSE Networking Dinner to provide further networking and engagement for industry.

Day Two: The commercial Expo and unclassified Conference; welcoming c.130+ exhibitors and c.2000 industry visitors. The event has a national and international reach; this year (2022) we host a delegation from US Army DEVCOM.

Regional Defence and Security Cluster (RDSC)

Following the publication of the MOD’s Integrated Review and its accompanying Defence & Security Industry Strategy Whitepaper (March 2021), which promoted the concept of Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSC), 3CDSG is in the process of becoming a Cluster.

We work closely with DASA and other related government/MOD agencies to support the provision to our SME community of access to funding and innovation support.

Armed Forces Covenant

3CDSG are proud to be Silver Award holders of the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC).

To learn more about the benefits of membership of 3CDSG click here.

https://www.3cdsg.co.uk