In this episode of Negotiating Government, David Gauke is joined by former Aviation, Maritime & Security Minister Robert Courts to explore what the plan really means for defence suppliers, technology companies and businesses looking to work with government.

Rather than treating the document as a shopping list of future contracts, they examine the strategic thinking behind government investment decisions and explain why political priorities, Treasury approval and strategic relevance increasingly determine which suppliers succeed.

They discuss:

• Why the Defence Investment Plan is a guide to government priorities—not guaranteed procurement
• How defence companies can become strategically relevant
• The growing importance of sovereign capability and UK industrial resilience
• Why Treasury thinking matters just as much as Ministry of Defence priorities
• Lessons from defence procurement successes and failures
• How AI, autonomy and rapid technological change are reshaping procurement
• What CEOs should do now to improve their chances of winning government contracts

Whether you work in defence, aerospace, technology or government affairs, this episode provides practical insight into how modern government procurement decisions are really made—and how to position your organisation for success.

About the Podcast

Negotient is the expert adviser in managing negotiations between the public and private sectors; we advise clients in both sectors how to get the best results from their negotiations. This podcast explores the strategies and behind-the-scenes mechanics that shape successful negotiations, and the factors that drive the interests of both sides. Our aim is to help those involved in public sector negotiations understand the challenges they face — and how to overcome them to deliver better results for the public.

How Governments Co-ordinate Investor-State Negotiations and Disputes

What makes the difference between a successful investor-state negotiation and an expensive international dispute?

In this episode of Negotiating Government, Negotient founding partner Iain Steel is joined by Katerina Drisi of ProSovereign Global to explore the often-overlooked challenge at the heart of major government investment deals: internal coordination.

Investor-state negotiations involve far more than a government department and a multinational investor. Whether the project concerns mining, energy, natural resources, infrastructure or a public-private partnership, governments must align the interests of finance, legal, labour, environment, investment and sector ministries — while retaining political support at the highest level.

Iain and Katerina discuss how governments can build effective negotiating teams, manage competing priorities across ministries and avoid the inconsistent decisions that can trigger investor claims for unfair or discriminatory treatment. They also examine the practical realities of investor-state arbitration, from gathering evidence and managing legal counsel to establishing clear processes when a claim is received.

The conversation explores why negotiation success depends on more than getting a contract signed. Strong implementation, structured handovers, realistic contractual obligations and clear accountability are all essential to preventing disputes later.

Drawing on experience advising governments across international investment projects, Iain and Katerina share practical lessons on:

• Building cross-government teams for investor-state negotiations
• Managing negotiation strategy, political escalation and back channels
• Preventing disputes through consistent administrative processes
• Improving handover from deal negotiation to implementation
• Designing contracts that can be delivered within real institutional capacity
• Strengthening government readiness for international arbitration

For government leaders, public-sector negotiators, investors, legal advisers and anyone involved in international investment, this episode offers a practical guide to negotiating better outcomes — and reducing the risk of disputes before they begin.

About the Podcast

Negotient is the expert adviser in managing negotiations between the public and private sectors; we advise clients in both sectors how to get the best results from their negotiations. This podcast explores the strategies and behind-the-scenes mechanics that shape successful negotiations, and the factors that drive the interests of both sides. Our aim is to help those involved in public sector negotiations understand the challenges they face — and how to overcome them to deliver better results for the public.

The English Devolution Act 2026 has just passed — but how do combined authorities actually negotiate the deals, powers and investment that make devolution work in practice? Phil Witcherley, Director of Economic Growth and Innovation at the North East Combined Authority, joins James Dowling to reveal the strategy behind building regional coalitions, securing integrated settlements and attracting private investment. An essential listen for businesses, investors and public sector leaders navigating England's new devolution landscape.

Devolution is a Negotiation: Delivering Successful Regional Government in the North East

With the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 just receiving Royal Assent, England is entering a new era of regional government. But how do combined authorities actually negotiate the powers, funding and investment they need to deliver for their regions?

In this episode, James Dowling is joined by Phil Witcherley, Director of Economic Growth and Innovation at the North East Combined Authority and a former HM Treasury official, for a frank conversation about what devolution looks like from the inside.

What you'll learn:

• Why devolution should be treated as a negotiation — not a grant application — and how that mindset changes outcomes
• How the North East Combined Authority built a regional coalition of businesses, local authorities and private sector partners to strengthen its position with central government
• What an integrated settlement actually means in practice, and why it represents a fundamentally different relationship with central Government compared to traditional grant funding
• How Phil's background as a Treasury official gives the North East a strategic advantage in understanding what central government actually needs to hear
• The growing role of combined authorities in attracting foreign direct investment — and why businesses increasingly want to deal with regional government, not just Whitehall
• How private sector partners can use the devolution agenda as a lever for joint investment in regional infrastructure

About Phil Witcherley

Phil Witcherley is Director of Economic Growth and Innovation at the North East Combined Authority. He has direct experience of both sides of the devolution negotiation — as a central government official and as a regional partner. He spent the first decade of his career in Whitehall, including at HM Treasury, before moving into local and regional Government; immediately before joining the Northeast Combined Authority, he was a Deputy Director at the Treasury's Darlington office, before moving into combined authority work. He has direct experience of both sides of the devolution negotiation — as a central government official and as a regional partner.

About the Podcast

Negotient is the expert adviser in managing negotiations between the public and private sectors; we advise clients in both sectors how to get the best results from their negotiations. This podcast explores the strategies and behind-the-scenes mechanics that shape successful negotiations, and the factors that drive the interests of both sides. Our aim is to help those involved in public sector negotiations understand the challenges they face — and how to overcome them to deliver better results for the public.