KALEAH SALMON

News Editor

Roke has launched Works with Roke, a partner programme focused on defence technology integration in the UK and allied markets.

The scheme gives suppliers, technology partners and systems integrators a formal way to show their products work with Roke systems. Partners that complete the process can use a Works with Roke badge to show their technology has been tested for interoperability.

The framework is intended to make collaboration more visible and repeatable across defence projects. Roke is positioning the programme as a way to reduce reliance on closed architectures and single-vendor systems, which can make upgrades and procurement more difficult.

The launch comes as ministers and defence planners place greater emphasis on industrial cooperation, shared supply chains and faster adoption of new technology. In that context, interoperability has become a more prominent issue for both government buyers and companies trying to bring products into service.

Works with Roke sets out a structured process for technical assessment, joint integration work and validation through live demonstrations. Participation is open to organisations of all sizes, with no fee beyond the time needed to collaborate.

The process formalises the integration work already underway between Roke products and third-party systems. By creating a standard label around that work, the company aims to give partners a clearer way to present compatibility to customers and procurement teams.

Open systems

For defence customers, the issue goes beyond branding. Programmes that combine software, sensors, communications equipment and autonomous systems often rely on products from multiple vendors, and delays can arise when those systems are hard to connect or validate.

Roke says the framework is designed to address those barriers earlier in the development process. Proving integration earlier can lower technical risk and support investment decisions by giving public- and private-sector buyers greater confidence that a combined system will function as intended.

Vendor lock-in has also become a recurring concern in defence procurement, particularly where proprietary systems limit flexibility over upgrades, maintenance and future competition. A structured interoperability process gives suppliers a way to present a more open approach while still working within existing programmes and procurement rules.

Matt Albans, chief technology officer at Roke, linked the launch to practices established in other sectors.

“Other sectors have shown what’s possible when you make collaboration the default. In telecoms, in cloud, in advanced manufacturing, organisations build around shared standards and open ecosystems.”

“Defence hasn’t always worked that way, and it’s holding us back. There has been a new push for diversity and resilience, which means avoiding vendor lock-in. We need to move faster from concept to deployment, and that means working together earlier and more openly. ‘Works with Roke’ is our call to industry to step forward, integrate, collaborate and help deliver capability at pace for the UK and its allies,” Albans said.

Industry response

One of the early voices backing the approach is Overview, whose chief technology officer said the framework reflects a broader shift in engineering priorities across the defence sector.

“Interoperability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ in defence, it’s fundamental to delivering capability at pace and with confidence. Works with Roke builds on existing open standards and provides a practical framework for engineers and architects on both sides to prove integration early, reduce technical risk and avoid closed, proprietary approaches. From a technical leadership perspective, that openness and clarity is exactly what’s needed to accelerate innovation while maintaining robustness and security,” said James Kinsman, chief technology officer at Overview.

The programme also has a supply-chain dimension. Recent defence cooperation agreements between the UK and overseas partners have placed greater emphasis on how companies align development work across borders, particularly as governments seek faster routes from prototype to deployment.

For firms trying to enter that supply chain, a recognised integration mark may offer a simpler way to signal compatibility with an established defence supplier. For larger contractors, it may provide a way to bring in specialist products without relying on bespoke claims about technical fit.

Roke has operated in the UK defence and national security market for decades and is part of Chemring Group. Its work spans cybersecurity, communications, sensors, robotics, and autonomous systems, placing it across several parts of the defence technology stack where interoperability issues often emerge.

Successful integrations under the new programme will be validated through live demonstrations, after which participating organisations can display the Works with Roke badge on their products and marketing materials.

The Burnside Partnership, based in Combe, has launched the service to support clients with interests in Spain, including property ownership and residency visas.

The Spanish Desk follows the appointment of Yolanda Pérez Berges, a bilingual lawyer with more than 17 years of experience in both the UK and Spain.

She is registered with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and the Madrid Bar Association.

Ms Pérez Berges said: “I’m delighted to have joined The Burnside Partnership as it expands its international services – particularly within Europe.

“I can help bridge the two jurisdictions and support clients with cross-border interests in a joined-up, practical way.”

The new desk will provide guidance on cross-border estate planning, tax matters, probate, property transactions, residency visas, and cross-border family matters.

Della Burnside, managing partner, said: “Spain has become a key destination for our clients, and the launch of our dedicated Spanish Desk is a natural next step.

“With Yolanda joining the firm, we can offer a seamless service to those who need cross-border Anglo-Spanish advice.

“We are delighted to welcome Yolanda and to further strengthen our international expertise.”

The Burnside Partnership, which also has offices in Marlow, London, was founded in 2015 by Oxford lawyer Anna Burnside.

LemFi has committed GBP £100 million to the UK economy over the next five years and named London its global headquarters.

The fintech group said the investment would support hiring in London, expansion of compliance functions, technology development and research. It described the move as its largest investment pledge linked to the UK market.

The announcement puts London at the centre of LemFi’s global operations as it expands services for diaspora communities that send money and manage finances across borders. The business said its team operates across five continents and serves customers in corridors linking markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The UK’s Department for Business and Trade highlighted the investment as part of broader trade ties between the UK and Nigeria. Annual bilateral trade between the two countries stands at GBP £8.1 billion, according to figures cited alongside the announcement.

London base

The UK funding package will go toward recruitment across engineering, compliance and product roles at the London headquarters. LemFi also plans to invest in its regulatory systems and in the next stage of its platform.

That focus reflects a wider push across fintech to strengthen compliance and local oversight while building products for internationally mobile customers. Firms serving migrant and diaspora populations have faced growing pressure to show they can expand while meeting standards in multiple jurisdictions.

Mark Smithson, Country Director for Nigeria and Regional Director for Anglo West Africa at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, commented on the move. “LemFi’s £100 million investment and job-creation commitment over the next five years is a strong vote of confidence in the UK’s fintech ecosystem and in deepening our economic partnership,” he said.

“It also underlines the UK’s position as a global home for high-growth businesses-supporting firms to scale responsibly, delivering safer and more accessible financial services for diaspora communities worldwide.”

Expansion path

LemFi has been building its footprint through regulatory approvals and acquisitions. It said it now holds financial services licences and approvals in the UK, Ireland, Australia and across 14 US states.

Last year, it acquired London credit fintech Pillar in a deal intended to add credit services for customers with limited formal credit histories. The group also secured approval from the Central Bank of Ireland to acquire Bureau Buttercrane, a move it said would give it access to the European Economic Area.

Those moves suggest the business is looking beyond remittances to a broader set of financial products. They also show how regulated entities and approvals have become an important route for fintech companies seeking faster access to new markets.

Rian Cochran, LemFi’s Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer, linked the London decision to the company’s customer base and international structure.

“Our team across five continents reflects every corridor we serve; to us, that lived experience is not a diversity metric; it is our product advantage,” said Cochran. “Our £100m commitment is more than just a capital injection; it is a promise of stability and accessibility. By centralising our global operations in London, we are creating a hub that ensures every corridor we serve, whether in Africa, Asia, or Latin America, benefits from world-class financial infrastructure and a cooperative relationship with local regulators.”

Founders’ view

LemFi was founded to address the needs of people who live and work across borders, and that proposition has widened as it has expanded into more countries. Its customer base now runs into the millions, according to the company.

Ridwan Olalere, LemFi’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, said the latest investment would support the next phase of growth. “We started LemFi to solve a real problem for people living across borders, and today, that mission is scaling globally. From our roots in Africa, we’re now serving millions of customers across continents, building financial services that reflect how people actually live and move.”

“This next phase is about expanding that impact: reaching more people across more markets with products that help them not just send money, but also build and grow financially wherever they are. The UK provides an enabling environment for us to achieve that,” said Olalere.