Jack Richardson
The iMAST Alliance has recently signed an agreement, bringing together their deep and collective strength of capabilities to deliver a training solution that they believe will modernise and transform Royal Navy (RN) training. The Alliance, a collaboration of three leading UK Maritime defence companies: Babcock, QinetiQ and Thales together with technology partners Centerprise International, Learning Technologies Group and academic Institutions, the Universities of Portsmouth and Strathclyde, is further boosted by an Ecosystem of more than 50 niche enterprises which will seek and explore innovation in learning technologies, delivering opportunities and benefits across the UK supply chain.
Transformative
Down selected to bid in 2019, the iMAST team is finalising its approach with final tender submissions due in summer 2020. The contract will be awarded following a competitive tendering process run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and will see the successful bidder partner with their customer to transform RN training. The iMAST vision is simple – working in true partnership with the customer to transform and modernise RN training in innovative ways that will deliver more, better trained people to the front line faster. iMAST lead contractor Babcock is currently responsible for around 70% of the outsourced RN training programme and this new collaborative Alliance squarely underpins its ongoing commitment to the Strategic Partner Programme with the MoD and Cabinet Office, which means iMAST is in an excellent position to provide a solid surety of delivery throughout the transformation period.
In addition to the provision of training, the winning bidder will also be responsible for designing, procuring and managing the maintenance and repair of all associated training equipment. This includes support for the delivery and procurement of the interior design, fit out and relocation to a new purpose built facility for submarine training based on the Clyde, helping to create a submarine centre of excellence.