Humber Marine & Renewables wins share of funding for coastal towns
Humber Marine & Renewables has today been awarded £85,000 from the Department for Transport as part of an initiative to grow economies in coastal towns around the UK.
Amounting to nearly £1m, the Maritime Cluster Development Fund has been divided amongst nine UK maritime clusters and is intended to drive investment and help local businesses through delivery of skills, training and educational programmes.
The funding, which is being matched by some of our members and supporters, will assist in our marketing of the region’s maritime sector as well as enhancing our work through additional business development activity.
Our chair Iain Butterworth, who is also a director at Butterworth Marine, said he was excited about what could be achieved as a result of the financial boost.
“Our roots are in the Humber’s historic maritime industry, and we have a long history in supporting its development which includes, in recent years, assisting companies to use their unique and valuable skills to diversify into offshore wind.
“This award will significantly augment our ability to provide targeted assistance to this important contributor to the region’s economy and help it shine on the world stage.
“I want to thank our members and supporters for their role in making this happen through match funding and support in kind, with special thanks going to our board member Camilla Carlbom Flinn for her invaluable work in the grant application.”
Humber Marine & Renewables has been instrumental in promoting the region for its expertise in maritime and offshore wind, with many of our members now working in the renewables sector regionally and globally.
The government’s Maritime Minister Mike Kane announced the funding, which is being managed by Maritime UK, and said that the maritime sector was key to unlocking regional economic growth. “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,” he said.
“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 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)
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.”