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Thank you, Ma’am: DIO’s behind-the-scenes contributions to HM The Queen’s funeral

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Working at DIO
The bearer party of guardsmen, in red tunics but without their famous bearskins, carry HM The Queen's coffin, draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the Crown Jewels and a bouquet of flowers.

After the sad news of the death of HM The Queen, the eyes of the nation and the world turned to the ceremonial elements that follow the death of a monarch, culminating in a state funeral. The Armed Forces were …

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Canada, Defence Training Estate (DTE)
A Challenger 2 tank firing from its main turret, on a large grassy field.

I'm Kate Harrison, Finance Director at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada. The UK Armed Forces have trained here since 1972, so my visit with …

Sanctuary Awards 2021: Celebrating 30 years of achievements in conservation and sustainability

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment and Ecology, Sanctuary Awards, Sustainability
A trophy which features a silver, metal otter with a fish in its mouth, perched atop a black square base. On the base of the trophy is a plaque which reads: 'Sanctuary Award, presented to MOD conservation officer by Otterburn Training Area, for annual presentation for the best conservation project on MOD land, 1991.

I’m Julia Powell, Head of Policy, Climate Change and Sustainability within the MOD’s new Climate Change and Sustainability Directorate. This year, I also had the challenging but exciting role of being Chair of Judges for what were the 30th annual …

Extreme E: An electrifying race weekend at Bovington Training Area

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Sustainability
The photo was taken from the side of the racetrack and shows two Extreme E SUVs passing over a jump. The car in front is on the descent while the other follows closely behind in mid-air over the jump. In the background is a row of trees adjacent to the track.

Over the weekend of 18-19 December 2021, we had the exciting task of hosting the final race of the inaugural season of Extreme E at Bovington Training Area (BTA) in Dorset. Extreme E is an international off-road, electric racing series …

Celebrating construction and facilities management award successes

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Construction, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Facilities Management
A futuristic looking dining and lounge area. There is a bar, tables and chairs, and a pool table and TV at the far end of the image. The colours across the walls and flooring are bright and varied.

This month, DIO and our industry partners are celebrating several successes in prestigious award schemes across the British construction and facilities management sectors. At the 2021 Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Impact Awards, our partners Mitie and Sodexo were recognised for their delivery …

Restoring vital sand dune habitats at Penhale Training Area, Cornwall

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Conservation, Environment and Ecology
Three people in dark clothing kneel on the ground looking at something between them. They are on a grassy area with the sea behind them.

The UK Defence Training Estate is home to a diverse range of habitats and wildlife species, many of which have been granted protected status. Through our work with industry partners, conservation organisations, and the UK Armed Forces themselves, DIO is …

Winners of Sanctuary Awards 2020 Announced

This week we hosted the first ever virtual Sanctuary Awards ceremony! The Sanctuary Awards have been showcasing outstanding sustainability and conservation efforts across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate since 1991, celebrating the achievements of teams and individuals in the …

Increasing training capabilities for the British Army Training Unit Kenya 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Kenya, Military Training
Ambassador Dr Monica Juma and Ben Wallace MP stand on either side of a large sign marking the opening of Nyati Barracks, with two uniformed Kenyan soldiers and one uniformed British soldier behind them.

One of our major commitments at DIO is providing first-class facilities to support the training of our armed forces, both at home and overseas. One example is the work we’ve done with local contractors and our Overseas and Training Region colleagues to construct a new, £70-million headquarters …