LWR(V) Gained IOC Approval

Posted on July 25, 2023July 25, 2023 by nickyyeoman

Supacat recently hosted a celebration for the LWR(V) reaching IOC, with the British Army, DE&S, and NP Aerospace in attendance.

Brigadier Matt Wilkinson, Vehicle Support Team Leader at DE&S, expressed his delight at the achievement and praised the collaboration between all parties involved, stating:

“Today, we celebrated the Lightweight Recovery Variant reaching Initial Operating Capability, which is the product of a fantastic collaboration between the British Army, Defence Equipment and Support, Supacat and NP Aerospace. We now have a Lightweight Recovery capability, which the British Army can exploit to inform the Army’s Future Soldier requirements for recovery vehicles.”

Photograph below feature representatives from, Supacat, VST (DE&S), British Army, & NP Aerospace.

For more information about this successful programme, please speak to Nicky Yeoman, Head of Marketing at Supacat (e: [email protected]) or Caroline Hardiman, Marketing Manager at NP Aerospace (e: [email protected])

Supacat proudly supported SSAFA at Taunton Armed Forces Day.

Posted on July 12, 2023July 13, 2023 by nickyyeoman

Supacat is a proud sponsor of SSAFA

In early July 2023, Supacat proudly supported SSAFA at Taunton Armed Forces Day. This community event honours the brave men and women of the Armed Forces community, including current and former service members, their families, veterans, and cadets.

For over 130 years, SSAFA has been dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces and is a strong advocate for Armed Forces Day. Sheryl, a SSAFA volunteer, expressed her gratitude for Nigel from Supacat, who spent the day on the Jackal and interacted wonderfully with all the children who wanted to explore the vehicle. Bob, the father of Lewis, also enjoyed the event, having served in the RAF himself and overseeing engineering apprentices at Yeovil College.

SSAFA’s mission is to help the Forces family thrive, and they provide charitable support both in the UK and in 11 other countries around the world. Their work is made possible through contributions from benevolent funds and generous donations, directly assisting serving personnel and their families.

Images are of Lewis, son of Emma (present at the show) – Lewis is having the best time.

Lewis in the Jackal at the Armed Forces Day

Supacat Passing The Baton

Posted on July 11, 2023 by nickyyeoman

The Bastion Baton was founded in 2009 by Alan Rowe, MBE. Supacat, utilising their impressive engineering capabilities, enabled the mechanical designers to engineer the end caps for the Batons successfully. This was a challenging task due to the asymmetrical profiles.

The Baton is a remarkable military charity that in 14 years has never taken wages, or will, advocates for veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the necessary support and rehabilitation for any physical or psychological injuries sustained while serving in the Armed Forces. Their efforts help raise awareness and assist those who rightfully deserve it.

The Baton holds a more profound meaning beyond being just a handle for a military stretcher. It symbolises courage, a virtue rooted in the experiences of those who have fought battles that most of us cannot even imagine, whether in their professional or personal lives. Its purpose is to be passed from one caring hand to another, spreading its message far and wide to keep it alive.

According to Phil Applegarth, the Director of Supacat, “Refurbishing the two Batons is not a new task for us. We are honoured to pass The Batons from one colleague to another to bring The Batons back to life.

Not long ago, four Royal Marines undertook a perilous journey of 3,700 miles across the Atlantic, carrying one of The Batons. As we facilitate its onward journey, this symbolic object now gets a new lease of life.”

Alan Rowe, MBE, the Founder and Trustee of The Baton, has praised Supacat for their ongoing efforts in refurbishing the charity’s symbol since its inception in 2009. The Baton has endured a lot of wear and tear, mainly when it was carried during the 3,000-cycle Race across America. It was never dropped despite being passed from one person to another 500 times. By the end of the race, metal spring clips held the baton together, and hardly any paint was left on it.

Alan Rowe expressed his gratitude, “Stephan Addicott for the recent refurbishment of the Batons. A lady and her mother will soon take one of these batons to an RAF grave in Belgium, where a crew member (the lady’s uncle) is buried. Local people tend to the grave as a gratitude for the crew’s sacrifice during World War II.”

Picture below Alan Rowe MBE Founder and Trustee of The Bastion Baton and Stephan Addicott Paint Shop Area Lead

Picture below The Baton before and after refurbishment

The Batons will now embark on their next journey from a once war-torn battlefield to new hands, spreading the message that the stretcher serves without discrimination, something we should all remember.

We are hiring

Posted on July 10, 2023July 10, 2023 by nickyyeoman

While our organisation is widely known for its creation and manufacturing of some of the world’s most recognisable tactical vehicles, we are far more than just a defensive entity. In fact, we have an extensive background in various sectors, including collaborative partnerships with globally recognised charities like RNLI #Savinglivesatsea and supporting the green energy sector through our collaboration with Fred Olsen on the Bolt Wave machine. As our business continues to expand, we require new skills to strengthen and enhance our workforce, ensuring that we are adequately prepared for the future.

If your ultimate goal is to make a difference by protecting lives and preserving our planet, our company is the ideal place to advance your career. We offer ongoing training and workshops to help you achieve new heights throughout your journey with us. We are proud to have a team of dedicated colleagues who have been with us for over 35 years, and our founder, Nick Jones, remains at the core of our organisation, even after 40 years of steady growth.

We are committed to creating a culture of excellence, fairness, and safety for all our employees. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to work with some of the most talented and experienced professionals in the industry, who are fully committed to achieving our common goal of making a positive impact on the world. Together, we can create a better future for all.

For more information about the roles we have on offer, please reach out to Tom Hattan, HR Manager or check out our careers page

Wishing you all the best in your chosen career!

A little reward goes along way

Posted on July 10, 2023July 10, 2023 by nickyyeoman

Supporting Team Forces and Turn to Starboard

In early July, we sent three members of the Supacat family to Falmouth to spend two days sailing with the Team Forces and the Turn to Starboard Charities.

Turn to Starboard is a charity run formed over ten years ago by retired RAF Squadron Leader Shaun Pascoe. The charity was created because of his dedication and commitment to the Armed Forces community, mainly supporting retired personnel and their families. The charity aims to help veterans and their families integrate into civilian life. They concentrate on resettlement, reintegration, and reinforcing a sense of worth and belonging. They aim to guide individuals to “Make the Right Turn” and steer toward a safer and brighter future, just like turning a ship to the right to avoid danger.

Three colleagues from Supacat joined Team Forces to ride the Cornish waves alongside the crew of Turn to Starboard. Thanks to Team Forces and Turn to Starboard for providing an enriching experience for the Supacat team.

As we are a big part of the Defence family, we felt this was a great way to offer something back to the defence community and our colleagues. Find out what our colleagues had to say about their experience:

Alex Dando said, “This opportunity allowed me to explore a new section of the coastline and discover a fantastic charity making a positive impact. From the excitement of sailing and reaching a speed of 7.5 knots to meeting exciting individuals from various sectors of the defence industry, this experience will stay with me. It rained during the first day, but this did not dampen spirits. The second day brought clear skies and a pleasant journey back to Falmouth. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!”

Richard Lott states, “After some reflection, I have gained a deeper appreciation for sailing and the admirable efforts of Team Forces and Turn to Starboard. My most cherished memory was steering The Spirit of Falmouth Boat while navigating the open waters. I’ll always remember the challenge of hoisting the sails, which required much effort.”

Chris Wheeler expresses his feelings about an enriching experience, “I embarked on a sailing trip with no prior experience or knowledge in the field. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful two days I spent on Turn to Starboards Tallship Spirit of Falmouth, also known as the “pirate ship”. The crew consisted of ex-forces and civilians who were passionate about their work. They were welcoming and encouraging, allowing us to participate in the sailing process and teach new skills.

As a veteran, I fully appreciate the crew’s charity work. They offer free yachting qualifications to veterans, helping them find peace and purpose through sailing careers. The first day was rainy, but it did not dampen our spirits. We sailed along the stunning Cornish coast from Falmouth to Fowey and were lucky enough to witness a couple of schools of dolphins. We ended the day with laughter and good food.

The next day, we sailed back with a favourable wind and decent sunshine while keeping pace with three other boats. It was a delightful experience, and I was sad to leave the ship and return to land. I highly recommend sailing to anyone, regardless of their interest or experience level, as it was an unforgettable two-day adventure.”

Hear from Joss Pascoe, the son of Shaun Pascoe: ‘Spirit of Falmouth’.

Listen to Chris Wheeler and Richard Lott, just before they set sail on the Spirit of Falmouth.