£85k of Investment for Marine and Renewables Sector along Yorkshire Coast

Nine maritime clusters across the UK will receive a share of £866,000 of government funding, helping them secure investment for local industry, deliver skills, training and educational programmes, Maritime Minister Mike Kane will announce today.

The government says that the maritime sector is

"key to unlocking regional economic growth, and this targeted support aims to revitalise coastal towns and cities, help build the UK’s economy and breakdown barriers to opportunity, as well as driving innovation in the sector".

"Putting local people and economic opportunity at the heart, the fund will help local entrepreneurs, leaders and schools."

The Humber cluster, which covers the Humber Estuary and North Yorkshire area is a fairy new initiative, the funding will help them more fully establish themselves and deepen their partnerships with local councils, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders, with a view to driving investment in the region.

The cluster will work to identify key areas for growth and innovation within the maritime sector in the Humber and North Yorkshire regions and will establish and promote new events regionally and nationally.

Maritime clusters, essentially act as a mixture of trade body and chamber of commerce, representing multiple maritime businesses, local institutions and stakeholders and helping to facilitate investment and growth regionally.

£85,000 of the funding will be allocated to Humber Marine & Renewables. Iain Butterworth, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Humber Marine & Renewables told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“Humber Marine & Renewables has played a vital role in helping nature the region’s maritime sector which of course includes offshore wind energy.

The region is now recognised as a world leading centre of excellence, whilst ensuring our maritime businesses can play their part in a new industry this funding will help us enhance our work with our members and ensure we continue to keep the region at the forefront of the green energy transition.”

Humber Marine and Renewables is a 100+ strong member organisation, and is responsible for Offshore Wind Connections, the major annual regional conference with international appeal. It takes place next year, in Hull, on April 30. It also runs the Humber Renewables Awards, now an extension to that event.

HM&R is the result of a merger of Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership, ensuring a stronger, single voice on the UK’s Energy Estuary.

Slightly to the North, the Tees cluster will receive £117,000 from the fund which will enable the cluster to run a maritime training and careers events for hundreds of schoolchildren and thousands of school leavers, students and job seekers. This will upskill young people looking to enter the sector as well as those looking to transition careers, ultimately encouraging people into maritime. 

As part of the Government’s mission to drive jobs and economic growth across the country, it says this latest funding will enable clusters to connect the maritime sector with local businesses, helping to drive private investment into regional maritime.

Maritime Minister, Mike Kane said:   

“The UK is a proud maritime nation, with our coastal communities being vital in unleashing our full potential and unlocking economic growth across the country. 

“By investing in our excellent maritime clusters, we can deliver jobs, skills and training for local communities and turbocharge growth by delivering investment into the sector.”  

The announcement comes on the same day as the Maritime UK National Council meeting, and as the Maritime Minister welcomes the new Maritime UK Chairman, Tom Boardley, who will take up his post in the New Year.    

Chris Shirling-Rooke MBE, Chief Executive of Maritime UK, said:  

“Today is an incredible milestone for the maritime industry across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Maritime Cluster Development Fund will create real impact and make a tangible difference to our most precious of places - our coastal communities.  

“Having been on this incredible journey with partners at the Department for Transport for more than six years, this labour of love for all of us is testament to the power of collaboration and partnership. I look forward to seeing all of our maritime clusters thrive and creating those vital jobs and growth where they’re needed most.” 

The nine clusters receiving funding (incl. allocation breakdown) are:   

• Tees Maritime Cluster (£117,000)  

• Humber Marine & Renewables (£85,000)  

• Short Straits Maritime Cluster (£85,000)  

• Cornwall Marine Network (£124,100)  

• Mersey Maritime (£100,000)  

• Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore (£100,000)  

• Scottish Maritime Cluster (£85,000)  

• Maritime UK South-West (£85,000)  

• Maritime UK Solent (£85,000)