January 2023

Maritime UK Regional Council – 24 January 2023
Regional Round-up

Maritime UK Solent – Stuart Baker (host region)

Work to evolve Maritime UK Solent continues with a view to it becoming a financially sustainable cluster organisation through a range of revenue streams including a membership model.

Maritime UK Solent Awards 2023 will be held on 5th October at Portsmouth dockyard following the success of the inaugural event with the intention of developing further the profile and activity surrounding the event. The aim is for 270 in attendance but 300 could be accommodated if necessary. 

Maritime Innovation Hub. Solent LEP has secured funding from the ‘Getting Building Fund’ (£850,000 grant), and Solent Freeport Seed Capital Fund (£400,000 grant) to establish a Maritime Innovation Hub to provide a focal point for the region's maritime excellence.

Ongoing delivery of the MUK Solent Business Plan remains the day-to-day operational focus of the organisation and a refresh of the document will be considered by the Board of MUK Solent Board in February. A survey is currently in circulation amongst the network to gauge ongoing levels of interest and where they believe the focus of the organisation should be.

Successful and well attended bi-monthly breakfast networking events have continued, including with the Isle of Wight UK Sailing Academy (pre-Christmas 2022). The next one, for which a modest charge (£9) will be levied, will be held with the New Forest Business Partnership (40 businesses/individuals have signed up already).

Intention to launch a new MUK Solent website this Spring.

International collaboration building has been successful in recent months including with Halifax Nova Scotia and possibly with a marine school in Cyprus (through links with the University of Southampton).

Exploration of Maritime UK’s role in supporting businesses to write bids for future funding opportunities is underway, including for future iterations of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

Mersey Maritime (Chris Shirling-Rooke)

The 8th Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2022 held on 10 November 2022 at Liverpool Cathedral, in the organisation’s 20th anniversary year. The ‘biggest yet’ with some 600 people in attendance. Keynote speech from BEIS Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP. Full details available here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mmia22/ and a write-up of the event is also available here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mersey-maritime-industry-awards-celebrate-regions-powerhouse-sector/  

To demonstrate our wider engagement in the community, as part of the MMIA22, we launched a charitable support appeal for a Wirral based charity, The Hive, which works with young people who are in challenging circumstances. We are aiming to raise £20,000 for them over the coming months and have made a good start already. More details here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/mersey-maritime-to-raise-20000-for-the-hive/  

Regular programme of Face-2-Face events has continued: 

  • November 2022 – Liverpool John Moores University 
  • December 2022 – a Mersey Maritime focused updated, including a briefing on the work that we engage with in the Regional Cluster Development Programme 
  • January 2023 – Defence and Security Accelerator. 

The Liverpool City Region Freeport has been announced as ‘open for business’ – we continue to support and promote their work. https://merseymaritime.co.uk/liverpool-city-region-freeport-officially-open-for-business/  

Eco-system building events in recent months have included: 

  • Hosting the Governor of the Bank of England for a breakfast roundtable with our key partners, 09/11/22. 
  • Port City Innovation Hub work: ‘Introduction and Insight into Maritime Innovation’, 24/11/22. 
  • Networking drinks event for key members (Executive and Partner level), 01/12/22. 
  • January 2023 F2F event drop-in surgery with the Defence and Security Accelerator. 

Regional Cluster Development Plan work: 

  • Launch of the Regional Cluster Development Plan Annual Report (MM team assisted with the design work for the document) at the Maritime UK National Council, 07/12/22. A news release around the report (together with a link to it) is available here: https://merseymaritime.co.uk/maritime-regional-cluster-development-programme-annual-report-launched/  
  • Planning for the future of the programme at various meetings, including: Internal between Chris Shirling-Rooke, Simon Eardley and Ben Murray (22/11/22), Special Meeting of the Regional Council (28/11/22), with Department for Transport officials (29/11/22). A draft paper collating various thoughts and priorities is now available and will be built on going forward into a plan and submission to the DfT for support.  

Forward look: 

  • Maintaining our regular programme of ‘eco-system’ building events – a pipeline of various is in place and being activity implemented. 
  • Hosting the Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere, 27/01/23. 
  • Launch event for Kays Logistics, 01/02/23. 
  • Mersey Maritime Exchange Conference, June 2023. 
  • Continuing to support the development of the new Maritime Knowledge Hub project based at the Wirral Waters regeneration scheme in Birkenhead. Planning approval is anticipated at the end of January 2023 which will be a significant milestone in the realisation of this important project which MM has been involved with from its inception. 

Humber Marine and Renewables (Camilla Carlbom Flinn)

Following the merger of Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership, the new organisation continues to find its feet (reminder of the news release around this merger from May 2022: https://www.humber-marine-renewables.co.uk/humber-marine-and-renewables-is-launched-marking-a-new-chapter-for-the-region-and-supply-chain/)

A number of events have been held in recent months, particularly with a focus on the offshore wind sector:

  • The Waterline Summit (17-19 October 2022): https://thewaterline.global/summit-2022
  • Aura CDT Conference – 01 November 2022
  • Inward trade mission activity in partnership with the Department for International Trade, including with Enterprise Singapore on 30/10/22 (focus on green energy powering vessels)
  • Networking event for HM&R members - UnSEAn - What Lies Beneath the Sea! (24/01/23)
  • Upcoming event with representatives from the Philippines
  • Review / catch-up call with the RCDP team scheduled for 25 January 2023
  • Consideration being given to plans for HM&R engagement with London International Shipping Week 2023
  • Skills and training – reforming the internal committee for this area of activity to re-energise this focus of the work of the cluster organisation

Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 completed by the Crown Estate. Three of the six projects are located off the North Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire coast, and three are located in the North Sea off the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coast. Following The Crown Estate’s final decision to proceed in August 2022, the agreements are the culmination of The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4, adding further strength to the offshore wind sector’s track record in leading the UK's net zero energy transition. More details here: https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/media-and-insights/news/2023-the-crown-estate-seals-landmark-agreements-for-offshore-wind-energy-to-power-7-million-homes/

HM&R sponsored the latest edition of Wind Energy Network magazine which features a double-page feature on the organisation (pp 6-7 and 14). Link here: https://www.windenergynetwork.co.uk/magazine/

Future events:

  • HM&R Networking – Modal Training (Immingham) – 09/02/23
  • Subsea Expo organised by Global Underwater Hub – 21/02/23
  • Come Fly With Us! – Humberside Airport – 01/03/23
  • Maritime UK Awards (Hull) – 09/03/23
  • HM&R Member Event – What does 2023 hold for you and your business? – 09/03/23
  • OWC2023 - Offshore Wind Connections 2023 – Hull – 04/05/23.

Scottish Maritime Cluster (Brian Fulton)

The SMC have appointed a new Chair, Kevin Hobbs (CMAL), succeeding Douglas Lang who has been in post for four years.

Richard Ballantyne (British Ports Association) has joined the SMC Board as a non-exec director.

AGM of the SMC agreed the recruitment of the first full time member of staff in a business development role. This is work in progress.

Singapore delegation hosted in Dundee. A similar delegation from Korea will be hosted in April 2023.

Webinar sessions have been held with maritime businesses from the Nordic countries and Brittany, France. It is hoped to expand this sort of engagement activity when the full time member of staff is appointed.

Partnering with the City of Glasgow College for an event focused on offshore wind and decarbonisation on 23/02/23. At the end of May it is intended to have a ‘FAL Convention’ event.

New member recruited: University of Strathclyde.

Scottish Maritime Cluster reception event is already in the diary for London International Shipping Week. Will take place on 11/09/23 at Dover House.

A series of decarbonisation focused seminars are being planned (including alternative fuel types and options around nuclear energy / power).

Four member meetings are scheduled and planned for 2023.

Engagement is proposed (picking up on a meeting in December 2022) with the Regional Cluster Development team in the spring. This engagement will focus on ongoing development activity, particularly the sustainability of the organisation going forward.

Belfast Maritime Consortium (David Tyler)

Collaborative network building funding opportunity support has been secured via Invest Northern Ireland and will be announced in due course. A number of workstreams will flow from this resource which will contribute to wider whole NI cluster development work.

Additional funding opportunities for cluster development are being explored with the aim to provide longer term support than that detailed above (over a two to three year period) with the aim that the cluster will be financially sustainable after this point. Focus of the above activity is intended to encompass both maritime and offshore interests with a particular emphasis on sharing best practice, collaboration in the UK on domestic opportunities and also positioning NI as a key destination for international business / FDI investment.

Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore Network Workshop in the diary for 09 February 2023 (HMS Caroline, Belfast) – organised by Invest NI and supported by the BMC and Maritime UK, amongst others.

The Belfast Maritime Consortium will continue its focus on innovation activity and also link in with the wider cluster development activity.

Within the BMC, Dr Katrina Thompson has been appointed to the position of Programme Director at Artemis Technologies: https://belfastmaritimeconsortium.com/dr-katrina-thompson-appointed-programme-director/

Artemis Technologies named Innovative Company of the Year at the 16th Annual Business Eye Awards: https://www.artemistechnologies.co.uk/news/artemis-technologies-named-innovative-company-of-the-year/

Maritime UK South West (Sheldon Ryan and Paul Wickes)

Recent change of Chair of Maritime UK South West, Kevin Forshaw has succeeded Anthony Payne. In the process of appointing a vice chair. More here: https://maritimeuksw.org/new-chair-and-co-chairs-appointed-to-maritime-uk-south-west/

The Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre has been awarded £15.6m of funding from the Levelling Up Fund issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as announced in January 2023. Focus will be on clean maritime and ocean technology in a collaborative way between the University of Exeter and University of Plymouth. Read more here: https://maritimeuksw.org/success-for-global-innovation-project-in-the-heart-of-appledore-with-award-of-15-6-million-in-government-funding/

Clean maritime strategic activity remains a focus with the development of a region wide clean maritime proposition for the south west.

‘Team Resolute’ announced as preferred bidder to deliver naval support ships (December 2022) which includes BMT, Harland & Wolff and Navantia UK. The facilities at both Appledore and Belfast will benefit from a £77 million capital investment programme over the next 24 months. More here: https://maritimeuksw.org/team-resolute-selected-as-preferred-bidder-to-deliver-naval-support-ships/

Plymouth and South Devon Freeport operational after approval of full business case. More here: https://maritimeuksw.org/plymouth-and-south-devon-freeport-first-to-be-given-the-green-light-with-full-business-case-approva/

Innovate UK Launchpad project bid submitted – awaiting result.

EPSRC fund bid submitted – partnership between the University of Plymouth, University of Exeter, Swansea University and ORE Catapult. Focus on marine technology to enable floating offshore wind.

South West Aquaculture Network continues to develop. Incorporation options being considered.

Upcoming events:

Marine-i wrap up. March 2023. Details: https://www.marine-i.co.uk/

Feb 21 – Clean maritime event (Poole) – to include briefing from DfT regarding the ZEVI competition. Details: https://maritimeuksw.org/future-of-uk-shore-clean-maritime-funding-event-poole-21st-feb-930-1520/

June – Appledore innovation event planned.

08 June 2023 – National Composite Centre – Maritime Innovation Showcase.

Cornwall Marine Network – Paul Wickes

Last year of EU funded programmes is necessitating a transition in the Cornwall Marine Network business model.

Employer based training centres will be a major focus of activity over the next year, focused on apprenticeships. 300 apprentices on the programme.

Marine-i: Marine Technology and Innovation Showcase. Since 2017, the Marine-i collaboration has assisted nearly 200 marine businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly access research, product development and innovation support through grants, academic expertise and world class testing. The current Marine-i project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, is now drawing to a close. A Marine-i: Marine Technology and Innovation Showcase (03 March) to celebrate its legacy. £10 million of investment in CMN member businesses.

Engaged with developing a composite site / training centre in collaboration with a CMN member.

North East (Charlie Nettle – Tees Valley)

Draft Terms of Reference have been formulated for the establishment of a Tees Valley focused regional cluster organisation (RCO). Discussions remain ongoing with key partners and stakeholders, including PD Ports and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. The aspiration is for the RCO to go beyond being just focused on river operators.

Tees Valley Port Users Association has gone through the process of incorporation. Legalities were agreed in November 2022 and traded live from 03 January 2023.

Engagement took place with the Regional Cluster Development Programme team (Simon Eardley and Chris Shirling-Rooke) in early January 2023 and will be picked up further in the spring.