Vaspba RPS Ltd

We achieved two important milestones as a business yesterday, at the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster event at the fantastic Army Flying Museum. After months of collaboration with cluster members and BattleLab community, we unveiled our NEW UK flight controller fitted in our IP67 rated (fully waterproof!) Delta Tango drone, alongside a proof of concept integration with a wireless charging solution. Together, with potential collaboration with a wind energy organisation in discussion, this kit can be deployed in even the most remotest of locations and do its job in all weathers and dusty conditions. Oh how UAS has changed since the early innovations of yester year! The test and evaluation has been completed on both of these products and Chris Wardman from Copper Turtle gave the audience a sneak peak of the drone and charging solution in action. 'Project Sentry' is an example of the success of regional partnerships, and the work we have achieved demonstrates the key part we now play as one of the Innovation Partners in this project. The supply chain for production of our components will be here in the UK, again, engaging with yet more SME suppliers, truly demonstrating UK Sovereign capability and the importance of SMEs in the supply chain. To top it off, the ruggedised controller on display, also shows our collaboration with yet another SME, MilDef. We are now in a position to offer clients a wide range of cost effective solutions to suit both budget and user need, which we will display at DSEI UK and #DroneX2025 later this year. Huge thanks to Russ COLE and Paul Edwards MBE FRAeS from ESL Group for sponsoring the event, giving Vaspba RPS Ltd the opportunity to showcase our developments, as we look forward to working together as Innovation Partners on other projects too. Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI, Elaine Plested, Vizgard, Force Development Services (FDS) Ltd #UKSovereignCapability #UKManufacturing #Defence #Collaboration #DronesForGood #UKProsperity #Network

We achieved two important milestones as a business yesterday, at the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster event at the fantastic Army Flying Museum. After months of collaboration with cluster members and BattleLab community, we unveiled our NEW UK flight controller fitted in our IP67 rated (fully waterproof!) Delta Tango drone, alongside a proof of concept integration with a wireless charging solution. Together, with potential collaboration with a wind energy organisation in discussion, this kit can be deployed in even the most remotest of locations and do its job in all weathers and dusty conditions. Oh how UAS has changed since the early innovations of yester year! The test and evaluation has been completed on both of these products and Chris Wardman from Copper Turtle gave the audience a sneak peak of the drone and charging solution in action. 'Project Sentry' is an example of the success of regional partnerships, and the work we have achieved demonstrates the key part we now play as one of the Innovation Partners in this project. The supply chain for production of our components will be here in the UK, again, engaging with yet more SME suppliers, truly demonstrating UK Sovereign capability and the importance of SMEs in the supply chain. To top it off, the ruggedised controller on display, also shows our collaboration with yet another SME, MilDef. We are now in a position to offer clients a wide range of cost effective solutions to suit both budget and user need, which we will display at DSEI UK and #DroneX2025 later this year. Huge thanks to Russ COLE and Paul Edwards MBE FRAeS from ESL Group for sponsoring the event, giving Vaspba RPS Ltd the opportunity to showcase our developments, as we look forward to working together as Innovation Partners on other projects too. Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI, Elaine Plested, Vizgard, Force Development Services (FDS) Ltd #UKSovereignCapability #UKManufacturing #Defence #Collaboration #DronesForGood #UKProsperity #Network

A very busy week for the Vaspba RPS Ltd team, so our Director of Strategy and Business Growth, Elaine Plested left the team to continue working on key R&D developments (including the new UK flight controller), and headed off solo to #DPRTE2025 at Farnborough Airport. Here's her download... A jam packed day, full of meeting a wide range of really interesting connections, and having the opportunity to begin to explore potential collaboration. Some great key notes and specialist speakers, including Huw Walters statement that we have "invigorating and complex challenges that we must face together...and how critical it will be to get SMEs effectively working within the supply chain". Let's make that happen! Looking forward to following up with Steve Priestley from Tetra Tech, Chris King from P&M Packing, Alun Bowen MBA from Veolia UK and Anna Mutter CMgr MCMI from SD Wind Energy, my head was buzzing with opportunities on all of these fronts! Thank you Richard Kershaw from Alker Fibre Optic Specialists Ltd. for sharing your innovations and growth story, let's hope we both find the 'needle' soon! Amazing chat with Richard McKie from BAE Systems about Women in Defence UK. I'll reach out to you regarding support for the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster. Fantastic to meet you Jenny Bridge from Boeing Defense, Space & Security and looking forward to seeing you at the BattleLab soon to continue our conversations around SMEs, supply chain and social value. As always, great to see Shaun Elmstrom MCGI CISM, Andrew Emmett and meet Barry Zielinski from Telent Technology Services Ltd, and to have some company walking the floor with Laura Handley from MilDef. #Defence #SMEs #Collaboration #BusinessTransformation #SupplyChain #UKProsperity #DronesForGood #UKManufacturing #SovereignCapability #SocialValue #Sustainability #CopperTurtle Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Chris Wardman, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI

The use of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) is fast becoming common place across a number of industry sectors, and importantly, when it comes to safety. However, in order to keep up the pace, collaboration between industry and academia has been a key way to enhance our thinking and drive innovation even further more quickly. Vaspba RPS Ltd are delighted to have formed a strong partnership with a number of overseas academic institutions, one of which is the University of Florence, Italy. For over 12 months, a team from the University have been writing new software and incorporating it into our thermal imaging camera, allowing the detection of the lowest of heat signatures, even in the dark! 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮! (𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛) Getting this new technology into service, will expand our current product offering to existing customers, as well as entering into new market sectors both in the UK and overseas, creating export led growth opportunities for our business. Watch this space for the next steps in development, as well as the progress on the drive to move away from Chinese components, with the development and production of our UK manufactured flight controller and data link for our IP67 rated drone. Exciting times ahead! #VaspbaRPS #DronesForGood #UKTechnology #WaterproofDrones #UKManufacturing #UKSovereignCapability #SearchAndRescueTech #MaritimeRescue #DroneSafety #DronesForSafety #InnovationThatMatters #CopperTurtle #BusinessTransformation #TeamVaspba Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Elaine Plested, Chris Wardman, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI

A very busy week for the Vaspba RPS Ltd team, so our Director of Strategy and Business Growth, Elaine Plested left the team to continue working on key R&D developments (including the new UK flight controller), and headed off solo to #DPRTE2025 at Farnborough Airport. Here's her download... A jam packed day, full of meeting a wide range of really interesting connections, and having the opportunity to begin to explore potential collaboration. Some great key notes and specialist speakers, including Huw Walters statement that we have "invigorating and complex challenges that we must face together...and how critical it will be to get SMEs effectively working within the supply chain". Let's make that happen! Looking forward to following up with Steve Priestley from Tetra Tech, Chris King from P&M Packing, Alun Bowen MBA from Veolia UK and Anna Mutter CMgr MCMI from SD Wind Energy, my head was buzzing with opportunities on all of these fronts! Thank you Richard Kershaw from Alker Fibre Optic Specialists Ltd. for sharing your innovations and growth story, let's hope we both find the 'needle' soon! Amazing chat with Richard McKie from BAE Systems about Women in Defence UK. I'll reach out to you regarding support for the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster. Fantastic to meet you Jenny Bridge from Boeing Defense, Space & Security and looking forward to seeing you at the BattleLab soon to continue our conversations around SMEs, supply chain and social value. As always, great to see Shaun Elmstrom MCGI CISM, Andrew Emmett and meet Barry Zielinski from Telent Technology Services Ltd, and to have some company walking the floor with Laura Handley from MilDef. #Defence #SMEs #Collaboration #BusinessTransformation #SupplyChain #UKProsperity #DronesForGood #UKManufacturing #SovereignCapability #SocialValue #Sustainability #CopperTurtle Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Chris Wardman, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI

Getting out and about as a company is huge when you have great UK supply chain innovation to showcase. Today, our Director of Strategy and Business Development, Elaine Plested, attended the Make UK Defence Networking Event in Wales, at the kind invitation of MilDef UK. Her thoughts "it was great to attend a 'bite size' event, focused on big impact over 3 hours! The quality did not falter, packed into a shorter space of time, and a number of people had travelled a considerable distance (not just us!) to be part of it, it was very worth while." Great intro from James Watson, from National Trade Association Make UK Defence, fabulous to hear the membership is growing as a result of the fantastic events, and how important bodies such as this are vital for guidance through the ever changing defence landscape, bearing in mind daily events! A recent major policy win for Make UK Defence is in relation to new SME spending targets for defence, that will boost access to UK defence investment. This is huge! 🎉 Also, as a business, it is important to link with your local support network, in this instance Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd, like our West of England Aerospace Forum - WEAF they can be invaluable, as can your local Defence and Security Cluster, Like our South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster. Today's event included a fantastic update from Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) regarding their Land Programme. Thank you Colonel Jeremy Johnson and Lt Colonel Tom Hall MSc. Very insightful! Our big take aways, spread your wings when you get an invite! Thank you Gregory Clark, Bryan Maddams, Rebecca Murray, Laura Handley. Awesome event! Great to meet Lee Hannaford, Phil Morrison and Tom A. from DASA amongst others. Sorry you couldn't be there Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Chris Wardman. You missed a great event, but priorities massively matter as an SME. After all, we have a big launch to make soon about the wider Vaspba RPS Ltd Group, the expansion into different market sectors, and, the UK/NATO manufactured products that sit within it. Watch this space! #VaspbaRPS #DronesForGood #UKTechnology #WaterproofDrones #BusinessGrowth #BusinessTransformation #SME #UKSupplyChain #Defence #Team #CopperTurtle #BusinessTransformation

Today, our Director of Strategy and Business Growth, Elaine Plested, took the opportunity to meet up with fellow member of the South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster, Jon Hurrell, MD of Falmouth based manufacturing business, Selectronics. Director of Sales and Marketing, Graham Tonkin took Elaine through the businesses product offering and the sectors that they supply, enabling her to find out more about what Selectronics do and explore further how our two businesses could potentially collaborate. Lots to learn about very clever components! Leaving behind her usual working environment of the BattleLab, the long drive down to Falmouth, Cornwall, was worth it. After strapping on her anti-static footwear, very fetching, but essential, Jon showcased how innovation and an investment in new technology has enabled the business to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Technology that automatically selects components for each job, X-ray machines that count components on a reel and pick and place machines that can produce PCBs by putting in over 45,000 components an hour. 🫨 Years ago, all of these tasks would have been done by hand, and some still were until more recently. Check out the photos, it is mind-blowing what this technology is capable of. According to Elaine, they are “quite mesmerizing!” so, if we lose her, we’ll know where to find her! 🤓 New technology has also meant that roles within the business have changed. Less low skilled workers are now required, as roles are now focused on programming machines and automation. These more skilled jobs, offer more job satisfaction and career progression, for the local workforce. 👏 And, having recently secured new premises nearby to support business growth, it will see Selectronics’ operations increase as they double their manufacturing footprint, opening up further roles that need filling. Exciting times ahead for all! 🚀 Vaspba RPS Ltd, Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Chris Wardman, Copper Turtle #DronesForGood #WaterproofDrones #UKManufacturing #UKSupplyChain #BusinessTransformation #BusinessGrowth #SMECollaboration #UKTechnology #Defence

As a company, we've always supported charities and good causes, but today we took the landmark decision to nominate a specific charity of the year for 2025. As part of our new Social Value Strategy, that Copper Turtle are helping us to develop, we have selected to work with Service Dogs UK. 🐕🦺 And, when you look at what the charity achieves, it is a double whammy! The charity works with rescue dogs, so not only do they change a dog's life for the better, they are matched with a veteran and trained to support specific tasks, dependent upon that veteran's condition. Why rescue dogs? The charity's experience shows that veterans share empathy with rescue dogs. Like veterans with PTSD, rescue dogs have their 'battle scars', they can change each other's life for the better, and that empowers both! As an organisation, we are both excited and proud to support this charity, and we are looking forward to developing a plan of activities for the coming year. The plan will involve financial contribution, but we will also be looking to involve the wider team in activities that support the charity, as well as offering our skills and expertise to the charity in ways that could benefit them in different ways than financial. Like the dogs and the veterans, it will be a match made in heaven! Great to see you today Bryan Maddams, Jane Joy MCIOF and meet Ferris! Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Elaine Plested, Chris Wardman, Copper Turtle, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI #VaspbaRPS #DronesForGood #UKTechnology #WaterproofDrones #BusinessGrowth #BusinessTransformation #SME #UKSupplyChain #Defence #Team #SocialValue

I love nothing more than being in a room full of people, but to be able to talk passionately about a business and their product, well that's a huge added bonus! Aside from the interesting speakers, today was one of those moments. The chance to talk to attendees of the STRIDE Dorset Innovation For Business Conference - Making the Change for Tomorrow, enabled me to tell people about the innovation funding grant Vaspba RPS Ltd secured and what it has done for their business. Check it out 👇 below. More to follow, as Chris Wardman and I will reveal next month, some of the successes Copper Turtle has recently brought to our clients, and our plans for the future including a focus on #SocialValue. #CopperTurtle #BusinessTransformation #SustainableChange #UKTechnology #UKSupplyChain #SME #Innovation #Defence #Team #WaterproofDrones

The team were delighted to be invited to display the Vaspba RPS Ltd Delta Tango product today at the STRIDE Innovation For Business Conference - Making the Change for Tomorrow, at the BattleLab. Why? Well, 'Making the Change for Tomorrow' is exactly what we are doing as a business. Having recently secured an innovation funding grant (STRIDE Dorset is funded by UK Government and Dorset Council UK), it has enabled the purchase of additional equipment for R&D, as well as fantastic support services through Plymouth City Council to enable us to develop further product and web development. Elaine Plested, Director of Strategic Growth and Business Development for Vaspba RPS Ltd confirmed "access to funds such as these are essential for SME's to continue to grow and develop in a challenging market. It gives them the ability to invest in new equipment to develop their product, and as a result to showcase their technical skills to a wider market sector. This is vital in this case, as Vaspba move towards manufacturing drones with all UK/NATO friendly components, which is critical for sale into both the defence and security sectors. Nicholas Spence, Dan Spence, Miranda Tidswell, Chris Wardman, Copper Turtle, Trevor Bowman MSc MCGI, South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster #VaspbaRPS #DronesForGood #UKTechnology #WaterproofDrones #BusinessGrowth #BusinessTransformation #SME #UKSupplyChain #Defence #Team #IFB25