The success of SC21 has always been driven by collaboration. While the programme is recognised for improving quality, delivery and operational excellence, one of its greatest strengths is the community that sits behind it.
Across the UK, SC21 participants, practitioners, providers and leading customers are working together to share knowledge, tackle common challenges and strengthen supply chain capability. Increasingly, this collaboration is being channelled through regional and thematic clusters that create trusted environments for businesses to learn from one another, build relationships and accelerate improvement.
The recent Highly Commended recognition for the Boeing Cluster at the CIPS Supply Management Awards demonstrates the growing value of this approach. It highlights the role that collaboration can play in diversifying supply chains, supporting innovation and improving the long-term competitiveness of UK industry. At the latest Boeing Cluster event, held at iAero, participants spent the day discussing collaboration and networking, with a little help from the “Boeing Tapestry” (main image).
Why clusters matter
The cluster model is built on a simple idea: businesses achieve more when they improve together.
Rather than traditional networking groups, clusters provide structured opportunities for organisations to share experiences, learn from proven approaches and develop solutions to common challenges.
Key benefits include:
- Sharing best practice between suppliers in a trusted environment
- Creating stronger relationships across supply chain tiers
- Providing practical learning through factory visits and peer reviews
- Helping SMEs access expertise and customer insight
- Building regional capability and resilience
- Accelerating continuous improvement across quality and delivery
- Encouraging collaboration between industry, academia and stakeholders
- Supporting long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth
The concept has its roots in one of the founding principles of modern supply chain management. As Professor Martin Christopher famously observed, and a mantra often repeated in the clusters, “Supply chains compete, not individual companies.”
As customer expectations increase and supply chains become more complex, collaboration is an essential part of becoming more productive, resilient and competitive.
A growing community of clusters
Here is a roundup of some of the leading clusters underpinned by SC21 and the Baseline Maturity Assessment:
SC21 & Continuous Improvement Cluster
The SC21 & CI Cluster established the blueprint for regional best-practice sharing. Building on successful clusters in the South of England, it grew from an early SC21 workshop in Northern England where participants recognised the value of ongoing peer learning.
Today, the quarterly forum brings manufacturing and supply chain organisations together through factory tours, host-led workshops and practical demonstrations of operational excellence. Delegates gain first-hand insight into successful approaches and return to their own businesses with ideas they can implement immediately.
Led by Dave Hood, of The Excellence Partnership, the cluster continues to be one of the strongest examples of continuous improvement in action.
NWAA SC21 Performance Improvement Programme Cohort
Led by the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), the SC21 Performance Improvement Programme (PIP) Cohort brings aerospace, defence and advanced engineering businesses together to drive operational excellence, strengthen supply-chain competitiveness and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
Through structured performance improvement, peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem-solving, participating companies share best practice, address common challenges and improve performance across Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD).
The cohort approach encourages businesses, particularly SMEs, to learn from one another, develop their people and build the capabilities needed to meet evolving customer requirements and achieve sustainable growth.
It’s about improving together, sharing knowledge and building a stronger, more resilient UK aerospace and defence supply chain.
Collaboration for Growth (CfG)
Led by Toyha Cox and Dave Hood, the Collaboration for Growth Cluster focuses on building stronger regional supply chain relationships.
The initiative helps organisations better understand each other’s capabilities, identify opportunities for partnership and work collectively to address common challenges. By connecting businesses across different supply chain tiers, the cluster creates opportunities for collaboration that might never happen through conventional business development activity alone.
For many participants, the benefits extend well beyond business performance, creating trusted relationships that support long-term growth.
South West Supply Chain Cluster
The newest addition to the SC21 cluster community is the South West Supply Chain Cluster, led by Ed Raggett from ADS South West.
Designed to bring together industry, primes, SMEs, academia and regional stakeholders, the cluster aims to strengthen collaboration, improve capability and support sustainable growth across the South West.
Launch activity is already underway, with a Collaboration for Growth event planned for Q1 2027. The event will give businesses their first opportunity to help shape the cluster’s priorities and future programme.
Alongside the cluster, ADS South West continues to support regional supply chain development through engagement activities, including recent collaboration with Rolls-Royce and the development of further initiatives with two major prime contractors.
Looking Ahead
As SC21 continues to evolve, clusters will play an increasingly important role in bringing businesses together, sharing expertise and strengthening the UK industrial base.
Steve Collins, Head of SC21, said:
“One of the greatest strengths of SC21 has always been the willingness of organisations to learn from one another. These clusters create the trusted environment needed for that collaboration to flourish, helping businesses share best practice, develop capability and improve performance together.
We are committed to supporting existing and new clusters so that even more organisations can benefit from the power of collaboration.”
Ed Raggett, Lead of the South West Supply Chain Cluster, added:
“The South West has an exceptional mix of primes, SMEs, academia and specialist suppliers. By bringing those organisations together, we have an opportunity to create stronger connections, share knowledge and unlock new opportunities for growth. We’re looking forward to working with businesses across the region to shape a cluster that delivers real value for the supply chain and the wider economy.”
In a programme built around continuous improvement, clusters are proving that some of the biggest gains come when businesses improve together.
