How Amey Powers UK Defence Fleet Resilience
Amey, the UK infrastructure and defence services specialist, has built its reputation on turning long-term client relationships into practical investment decisions.
Its work with the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s National Armaments (NAM) directorate shows how that approach operates in practice.
It uses the detailed fleet knowledge gained through contracts such as MITER, a large vehicle and equipment contract, to identify where equipment renewal delivers the greatest operational and financial value.
Rather than reactive replacement, Amey favours evidence-led, whole-life decision-making developed jointly with its clients.
The result is investment, such as the £26m (US$35m) it is co-investing with the MOD, aimed at strengthening Defence readiness while supporting UK manufacturing and domestic supply chains.
Why fleet renewal matters
Construction, earthmoving and materials-handling equipment underpins nearly every task the Armed Forces carry out on home soil, from civil engineering works undertaken by the British Army to construction projects delivered across all three services.
When that equipment ages, so does the reliability of the infrastructure it supports. Under its MITER contract, Amey manages around 4,500 items of this kind of equipment for Defence, giving it a detailed, whole-fleet view of where replacement delivers the greatest operational and financial return.
That long-term oversight is what allows partners to move beyond simple like-for-like replacement. Amey and NAM jointly assessed operational need, fleet performance and long-term value before settling on a replacement solution.
How the partnership model works
A programme of this scale depends on aligning three distinct interests: the operational requirements of Defence personnel, the commercial and technical expertise of an infrastructure partner, and the manufacturing capacity of UK industry.
In this case, that alignment produced an investment covering 96 Medium Wheeled Tractors and 61 excavators, sourced through a competitive procurement process and supplied by JCB from its Uttoxeter headquarters.
- The investment supports the modernisation of part of the MOD's operational fleet
- It is delivered through Amey's MITER contract, covering roughly 4,500 items of equipment
- The new assets include 96 Medium Wheeled Tractors and 61 excavators
- JCB was selected as supplier following a competitive procurement process
- The equipment was showcased at JCB's headquarters in Uttoxeter
"Our partnership with NAM means we can take a long-term view of Defence's needs and make evidence-led investment decisions that deliver for the taxpayer and for frontline users,” says Craig McGilvray, Managing Director of Defence at Amey. “This programme is about more than replacing equipment; it is about strengthening readiness, backing UK industry and building the resilience Defence needs for the future."
Building resilience for the long term
Programmes structured around whole-life value, evidence-based decision-making and close client-supplier collaboration are better placed to withstand the operational and economic pressures that come with maintaining critical national infrastructure.
"By taking a whole-life approach to fleet management, we're not just replacing equipment, we're improving the reliability and availability of the assets our personnel depend on,” says Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Environment at NAM Group. “This is exactly the kind of collaborative, evidence-led procurement that will help us deliver better outcomes for Defence and for the taxpayer."
Amey's key partners:
JCB
The Uttoxeter-headquartered manufacturer has supplied the MOD with 96 Medium Wheeled Tractors and 61 excavators. As one of the UK's best-known construction equipment makers, JCB's role underlines how defence fleet renewal directly supports domestic manufacturing capability and jobs within the UK's industrial supply chain.
Ministry of Defence's National Armaments (NAM)
NAM is Amey's client and co-investor of £26m (US$35m), combining Defence's operational insight with Amey's asset management expertise. The directorate oversees equipment and materiel decisions across the Armed Forces, working closely with delivery partners to modernise fleets and improve availability.
National Highways
Amey is a long-standing delivery partner to National Highways, including on its Digital Lab and the Specialist Professional and Technical Services 3 framework (SPaTS3), valued at up to £495m (US$663m). The relationship spans asset management, technical advisory and strategic transport planning work.
Network Rail
Amey supports Network Rail through Engineering and Construction Services, and Programme and Project Management Services frameworks, covering capital delivery across multiple English regions. The partnership focuses on reducing carbon emissions and improving reliability across the rail network.
SYSTRA
This international transport and infrastructure engineering organisation acts as Amey's strategic partner on the SPaTS3, bringing additional specialist expertise in highways engineering, feasibility studies and delivery support, strengthening the combined offer to National Highways.
Executives
Craig McGilvray
Managing Director
Lizzie Faithfull-Davies
Major General
