As part of the Mission Automotive initiative, driven by the SMMT and established by service charity Mission Motorsport, the CV Show 2026 will host a formal Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) signing ceremony, delivered in partnership with Defence Relationship Management (DRM).

Hosted by James Cameron, Founder of Mission Motorsport, this session will bring together industry and Defence to showcase a shared commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community and strengthening workforce resilience across the automotive and logistics sectors.

During the session, three organisations will make a public commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant:

• Samsara
• Hewland Engineering
• Nineteen Group

The ceremony will be conducted with a senior military representative present, providing formal recognition of each organisation’s pledge and reinforcing the importance of employer support to service leavers, reservists, veterans, and their families.

This moment forms part of longstanding Mission Automotive activities, which is driving greater alignment between the automotive sector and national Defence priorities. The initiative is also supported by the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, helping SMEs within the automotive supply chain to better understand and access opportunities within Defence markets, in line with the Defence Growth Plan announced last year.

This session offers a visible demonstration of industry leadership, collaboration, and commitment to the Armed Forces community.