First and second tier contractors to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have been urged to embrace flexible working following the Comprehensive Spending Review by government, according to Beatrice Bartlay, managing director of multi-sector recruiter 2B Interface.

Earlier this month, a leaked internal MoD memo revealed demands for £3.96bn of savings across the so-called rotary wing fleets operated by the Royal Navy, Army and RAF.

Bartlay says: “The Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox said the Armed Forces would have to suffer cuts as a result of a £37bn budget black hole left by the previous government.

“What is now becoming apparent is that the MoD is facing the most severe cuts in its history and that is going to have a dramatic impact on all contractors supplying the military.  

“The MoD is looking at budget cuts of anywhere between 10% and 20% and a strategic defence and security review, out this October, is expected to usher in a period of major cuts in equipment and personnel.

“For contractors supplying the Ministry, now is the time to look closely at their own staffing and find the most cost-effective and flexible solutions that can ensure that they can survive any scaling down of spend.”