If you are qualifying suppliers for an aerospace or defence programme, JOSCAR is one of the first things you will check. Here is what it is, why buyers rely on it, and how to confirm a supplier holds it.
What is JOSCAR?
JOSCAR — the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register — is a single, shared pre-qualification register for the UK aerospace, defence, security and space industries. It is operated by Hellios on behalf of a community of buyers, so a supplier is assessed once against a common standard rather than repeatedly for each customer.
Registration covers a supplier's quality management, regulatory compliance, financial health, and business policies — the due-diligence a defence buyer needs before placing work.
Why does JOSCAR matter for defence suppliers?
Because the primes use it as a gate. Major aerospace and defence buyers pre-qualify their supply chains through JOSCAR, so registration carries real weight:
- It signals you have already passed the standardised checks those buyers require.
- It shortens onboarding, because the due-diligence is done and shared.
- It is often a prerequisite for being considered for defence work at all.
For a subcontractor, it removes a barrier that stops many shops from getting onto the approved-vendor list.
How does a supplier become JOSCAR registered?
A supplier submits a standardised questionnaire and supporting evidence through Hellios — covering certifications, quality processes, financial information and policies — which is then verified. Registration is kept current through periodic re-validation, so the register reflects a supplier's live status rather than a one-off snapshot.
Is Milltech JOSCAR registered?
Yes. Milltech is JOSCAR registered, and pairs it with an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system approved by LRQA and Cyber Essentials Plus certification — the accreditation stack aerospace and defence buyers look for when adding a machining subcontractor to their supply chain.
