It is with regret that I inform you that the UK Strategic Command and DE&S Industry Day and Three Counties Defence & Security Expo (3CDSE) that was due to take place on 2 & 3 February is postponed until 7 & 8 July 2021.
First and foremost, your health and safety and that of our staff and wider colleagues, is always our highest priority and first consideration.
Working together with our trusted event partners, we have been closely monitoring the coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, and carefully reviewing the daily Government guidance updates.
Our conclusion at this stage is that 3CDSE will be postponed to 7 & 8 July 2021.
I am sure you will recognise that this is a decision not taken lightly but is prudent given the national situation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was reached after full consultation with all key stakeholders including UK Strategic Command equipment capability sponsor, DE&S Delivery Agency and the Three Counties Defence and Security Group.
The priority remains to ensure the health and safety of those planning to attend and given the uncertainties over the current situation it has been agreed that a sensible time frame in which to reschedule the event is Summer 2021.
As you would expect we will continue to keep this under review and update you should there be any further changes. On behalf of UK Strategic Command, DE&S and the organisers of 3CDSE, we would like to reassure you that we remain entirely committed to fostering the strong relationships between Defence and Industry which is afforded by 3CDSE.
We continue to build upon the success of the 2019 event which provided a tremendous forum for engagement and discussion both Authority to Industry and Business to Business. In 2019 UK Strategic Command and DE&S reached over 200 companies and were able to share first hand an overview of future requirements and the potential business opportunities within the Special Projects capability area of UK Strategic Command.
The event also provided great insight into the perspectives, challenges and opportunities identified by a range of industry partners, in particular Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It is an excellent forum to drive greater coherence into the specialist sector and as such continuing these discussions and engagement will be even more important as we look to the future and the strategic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am sure you will understand our decision and hope that you will continue to support this event over the revised dates in 2021.
Until then we have no doubt that you will continue to work in support of Defence outputs and for some, wider cross-government activity in response to Coronavirus.
Thank you for your efforts and our very best wishes to you and your teams during these exceptionally difficult times.
If you have any specific questions, please do contact us at info@3cdse.co.uk.
Anna Roby-Welford
CEO, 3CDSE