SC21 (Supply Chains for the 21st Century) is a proven continuous improvement programme designed to strengthen the performance and competitiveness of the UK’s aerospace and defence supply chains. Built on a structured framework, it enables organisations to improve quality, delivery and efficiency, while developing a culture of operational excellence that drives competitiveness and long-term growth.
Why improvement needs focus
At the heart of SC21 is a commitment to meaningful, sustained improvement. Through tools such as the Baseline Maturity Assessment and the Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan (CSIP), businesses gain a clear understanding of their current capability and can prioritise actions that deliver the greatest impact. This approach ensures that improvement is not reactive, but targeted—helping organisations strengthen resilience, embed best practice and evidence change.
Crucial to this journey are SC21 Practitioners. Acting as a critical friend, they work alongside organisations to provide perspective, challenge thinking and support progress over time.
Start by benchmarking your performance through the Baseline Maturity Assessment (BMA). However, the real value lies in what organisations choose to do next.
SPECIAL OFFER!!!
Busy team, big priorities? Focus on what matters!
For a limited time only, SMEs completing a Baseline Maturity Assessment can unlock a free 1:1 Practitioner session to help review results, prioritise actions and focus effort where it matters most.
The Baseline Maturity Assessment is flexible enought to appeal to SMEs and larger businesses benchmarking multiple sites or supply chain suppliers.
It has been designed by industry supply chain experts from aerospace, defence and automotive sectors, together with input from national and regional partners, to provide an initial holistic report of your performance and, recommendations on how and where you can improve.
T&Cs
Up to one hour of consultation is offered as part of this promotion valid from 1 June – 31 August 2026. Further consultation is at a rate agreed with the Practitioner. The offer is valid once you complete the BMA. There is no cash alternative.
Find a Practitioner
Practitoners are located around the UK.
View the list of participating Practitioners below:
| Name | Company | Region | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olaide Olaoye | ASC Associates | East of England | olaide.olaoye@ascassociatesuk.co.uk |
| Adrian Gundy | Quality Blue | Greater London | adrian@qualityblue.uk |
| Jim Barr | RTC North | North East | Jim.Barr@rtcnorth.co.uk |
| David Hood | The Excellence Partnership | North East | davidhood@excellencepartnership.co.uk |
| George Wilson | Centre for Competitiveness | Northern Ireland | George.Wilson@cforc.org |
| Ian Collinson | Scottish Enterprise | Scotland | Ian.Collinson@scotent.co.uk |
| Colin Allan | Scottish Enterprise | Scotland | colin.allan@jlcconsultants.co.uk |
| Brian Baker | Scopi Consulting Ltd | South East | brian.baker@scopi-consulting.co.uk |
| Charles Hill | Exelin | South West | Charles.Hill@Exelin.co.uk |
| Karl Smith | KRS Profitti Ltd | West Midlands | karl.smith@krsprofitti.co.uk |
| Gerald Robinson | Aspen Global | West Midlands | gerald.robinson@aspenglobal.co.uk |
| Alan Lothian | 3ABEL | West Midlands | alan.lothian@aaabel.co.uk |
| Andy Spence | AS Compete | West Midlands | andy.spence@ascompete.co.uk |
The role of Practitioners
At its core, the role of a Practitioner is to help organisations see SC21 not as an audit, but as a vehicle for meaningful improvement. SC21 provides a clear, proven route for organisations to strengthen capability, competitiveness, and resilience.
Rather than delivering one-off interventions like SC21 Providers do, Practitioners build trusted relationships, helping businesses to reflect honestly on their performance and identify where real change is needed.
This role is vital. Many organisations are busy improving—but not always improving the right things. Practitioners help bridge this gap by combining structured assessment with expert insight, ensuring that effort is focused on the areas that will unlock the greatest value. They guide companies in developing and refining their CSIP, turning insight into action and supporting implementation in a realistic, sustainable way.
“I’m passionate about continuous improvement, and while the principles are simple, applying them consistently is not always easy. That’s where we can help—acting as a supportive partner to guide businesses through the process and help them make the most of their potential.”
David Hood, SC21 Master Practitioner – The Excellence Partnership
View our full blog from The Excellence Partnership here.
