UK government welcomes superyacht industry to first marine showcase
Superyacht UK, Pendennis, Williams tenders and security specialists Sonardyne were amongst those chosen for the showcase, part of the UK government's economic growth strategy....…
The superyacht industry was strongly represented at the UK government’s first ever marine industries showcase, held at its department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) in London.
The two-week exhibition, which launched on 16 April with a tour made by Business Minister, Mark Prisk and Minister for Defence Equipment and Technology, Peter Luff, is staged in the department’s entrance. Its prime position ensures that all of its nine executive agencies, which in total employ around 14,500 people, will see and engage with it.
The aim is to give ministers responsible for the funding and support of the marine sector, as a key component of the UK’s economic growth strategy centred on manufacture and export drives, the chance to see first hand its benefits.
Representing the voice of the superyacht industry was Pendennis, Superyacht UK and Williams tenders (a tender was on display in front of the government building pictured below). Sonardyne, the multi divisional engineering and science business, which has some crossover into the superyacht industry in terms of its top level security systems, was also present.
The three organisations were there amongst just a handful of marine organisations selected to illustrate the showcase’s five key themes: leisure, naval, marine energy, commercial and marine science.
SuperyachtNews spoke to Toby Allies, there in his dual capacity as chairman of Superyacht UK and sales and marketing director at Pendennis.
“I am here to put across our position as an industry to the minister, to show [the superyacht industry] is important for leisure marine industry as a whole...to put a case for industry to be recognised in what it is bringing to UK in terms of innovation and presence in international markets.”
The showcase follows substantial financial investment made by the government into the marine sector as part of its regional growth fund, with Princess yachts awarded a multi million pound grant in 2011. It is part of a longer term objective to boost the sector’s growth as Mark Prisk, who is also co-chair of the Marine Industries Leadership Council (MILC), explained:
“We have a clear strategy for the marine and maritime sectors. We have a goal of 4% growth per annum for all the marine and maritime (including insurance) sectors between now and 2020. If you look at the sectors, they are worth about £17 billion, what we’re looking to do is take that up to £25 billion by the end of the decade.”
Support for jobs and the impetus to full a gap in skills in the sector was also the showcase’s aim. “Young people are being deterred from taking up jobs. The chief constraint for the UK marine sector is skills. We need now to chalk up the making of things,” said Luff.
Separate from these weighty issues at the heart of the showcase, SuperyachtNews enjoyed the opportunity to speak to Rob Balloch, strategic business development director at Sonardyne about the increasing popularity of top-level security and research systems on superyachts.
Balloch said Sonardyne, which makes highly advanced security systems such as sub sea intruder detection technology, had worked on three superyacht security projects in the last month alone. He also spoke about the increasing number of superyachts being used for science and research purposes.
“This year we’re working with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Scientists there are being loaned megayachts. This is one of the biggest costs in research [use of appropriate vessel] and more philanthropists are handing over their yachts to them and getting involved in the work.”
It's encouraging that despite the uncertainty of the economy, both in the UK and worldwide, the first ever government marine showcase indicates this is still a ripe time for growth and innovation in the sector. The inclusion of the UK superyacht sector as a key part of this should also be a spur and encouragement to all those who operate in it that there is the support and recognition for its worth.
Related Links
Pendennis Profile | Pendennis Website
Williams Performance Tenders Profile | Williams Performance Tenders Website
Sonardyne Profile | Sonardyne Website
Princess Yachts Profile | Princess Yachts Website
Superyacht UK Profile | Superyacht UK Website
Department for Business Innovation and Skills Website
UK Marine Industries Alliance Website
The UK superyacht industry's economic impact is included in Superyacht Intelligence's Economic Impact of the Superyacht Industry global report, which can be downloaded here
The two-week exhibition, which launched on 16 April with a tour made by Business Minister, Mark Prisk and Minister for Defence Equipment and Technology, Peter Luff, is staged in the department’s entrance. Its prime position ensures that all of its nine executive agencies, which in total employ around 14,500 people, will see and engage with it.
The aim is to give ministers responsible for the funding and support of the marine sector, as a key component of the UK’s economic growth strategy centred on manufacture and export drives, the chance to see first hand its benefits.
Representing the voice of the superyacht industry was Pendennis, Superyacht UK and Williams tenders (a tender was on display in front of the government building pictured below). Sonardyne, the multi divisional engineering and science business, which has some crossover into the superyacht industry in terms of its top level security systems, was also present.
A Williams tender alongside a tender from Sea Fury outside the BIS
The three organisations were there amongst just a handful of marine organisations selected to illustrate the showcase’s five key themes: leisure, naval, marine energy, commercial and marine science.
SuperyachtNews spoke to Toby Allies, there in his dual capacity as chairman of Superyacht UK and sales and marketing director at Pendennis.
“I am here to put across our position as an industry to the minister, to show [the superyacht industry] is important for leisure marine industry as a whole...to put a case for industry to be recognised in what it is bringing to UK in terms of innovation and presence in international markets.”
Toby Allies and Minister for Defence Equipment and Technology, Peter Luff
The showcase follows substantial financial investment made by the government into the marine sector as part of its regional growth fund, with Princess yachts awarded a multi million pound grant in 2011. It is part of a longer term objective to boost the sector’s growth as Mark Prisk, who is also co-chair of the Marine Industries Leadership Council (MILC), explained:
“We have a clear strategy for the marine and maritime sectors. We have a goal of 4% growth per annum for all the marine and maritime (including insurance) sectors between now and 2020. If you look at the sectors, they are worth about £17 billion, what we’re looking to do is take that up to £25 billion by the end of the decade.”
Prisk is co-chairman of the UK Marine Industries Alliance, which has identified leisure as one of the main sectors for growth opportunity
Support for jobs and the impetus to full a gap in skills in the sector was also the showcase’s aim. “Young people are being deterred from taking up jobs. The chief constraint for the UK marine sector is skills. We need now to chalk up the making of things,” said Luff.
Separate from these weighty issues at the heart of the showcase, SuperyachtNews enjoyed the opportunity to speak to Rob Balloch, strategic business development director at Sonardyne about the increasing popularity of top-level security and research systems on superyachts.
Business Minister Mark Prisk talks to Rob Balloch at Sonardyne
Balloch said Sonardyne, which makes highly advanced security systems such as sub sea intruder detection technology, had worked on three superyacht security projects in the last month alone. He also spoke about the increasing number of superyachts being used for science and research purposes.
“This year we’re working with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Scientists there are being loaned megayachts. This is one of the biggest costs in research [use of appropriate vessel] and more philanthropists are handing over their yachts to them and getting involved in the work.”
It's encouraging that despite the uncertainty of the economy, both in the UK and worldwide, the first ever government marine showcase indicates this is still a ripe time for growth and innovation in the sector. The inclusion of the UK superyacht sector as a key part of this should also be a spur and encouragement to all those who operate in it that there is the support and recognition for its worth.
Related Links
Pendennis Profile | Pendennis Website
Williams Performance Tenders Profile | Williams Performance Tenders Website
Sonardyne Profile | Sonardyne Website
Princess Yachts Profile | Princess Yachts Website
Superyacht UK Profile | Superyacht UK Website
Department for Business Innovation and Skills Website
UK Marine Industries Alliance Website
The UK superyacht industry's economic impact is included in Superyacht Intelligence's Economic Impact of the Superyacht Industry global report, which can be downloaded here
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