DSEI London 2025: why we went, who we met, and what it means for manufacturers
15th Sep 2025
This week our Business Development executive, Charlotte Evans attended DSEI at ExCeL London - the UK's flagship defence and security event and one of the largest of its kind globally. With 1,600+ exhibitors, 45,000+ attendees from 90+ countries, and dedicated zones spanning Aerospace, Land, Naval, Space, Tech and Manufacturing, DSEI remains a high-calibre forum for real conversations, real programmes and real delivery.
What DSEI is (and why it matters)
DSEI connects governments, armed forces, primes and the wider supply chain on an unrivalled scale - bringing the right people together at the same time to accelerate decisions. For us, it's a focused way to compare needs across factory modernisation, test/clean environments, secure fit-outs and ground-up facilities, and to align these with client-side project and cost management that de-risks capex and keeps programmes on track.
Who we met
Across the halls we engaged with global names including Airbus, GE Aerospace, Rheinmetall, Caterpillar Defense and Elbit Systems - each showcasing new capabilities and investment priorities that will shape programmes over the next cycle. There were too many others to list - with more than 1,500 exhibitors on the floor, meaningful conversations were happening everywhere.
Lee Wakemans' top tip: plan for more than one day at DSEI. One day simply isn't enough to cover the stands you'll want to see. Book key meetings in advance, prioritise zones, and leave time for unexpected opportunities.
Why we were there
Lee Wakemans is a RICS-regulated project and cost management consultancy. We help manufacturers plan and deliver complex capital projects - on time, on budget and ready for use - by locking scope early, coordinating interfaces, and running pragmatic procurement that keeps competition and capacity alive. That's directly relevant to the Manufacturing Zone focus at DSEI and to the sector's current constraints on price, labour and lead times.
What we heard (and what's next)
Three themes came through repeatedly in our conversations:
- Factory readiness and phasing - compressing time to weathertight shell so fit-out can start earlier, with fewer weather risks on the critical path.
- Assurance by design - golden-thread documentation, test evidence (fire/acoustics), and clean/test lab integration that support faster approvals and safer commissioning.
- Resilient procurement - disaggregating packages sensibly, securing factory slots, and using transparent controls to hold scope and budget.
If we didn't manage to meet on the day, we're happy to pick things up post-show - whether that's a portfolio walk-through, a quick options review for an upcoming facility, or a site visit to recent projects.
Contact: [email protected]
