Maritime UK Solent looks back on busy year flying the flag for the region’s thriving maritime cluster

A year of achievements for the region’s maritime sector is being celebrated by Maritime UK Solent.

In a busy 12 months, the regional maritime representative body has been key to delivering many high-profile initiatives and events to support the continued success of the sector.

Anne-Marie Mountifield, Chair of Maritime UK Solent, said: “We’re proud to look back at how we’ve raised the profile of the Solent’s thriving, innovative maritime cluster on the regional, national and international stage over the past year.

“There’s outstanding opportunity here in the Solent, and we’ll continue to champion our region’s exceptional maritime industry – from the grassroots of working with schools to highlight careers opportunities for local young people, through to international trade delegations to highlight investment opportunities on a global scale.”

Maritime UK Solent has successfully worked with government bodies to bring about positive change, representing the regional sector at national and international events to champion and promote the region as a globally significant maritime cluster.

Its high-profile engagement has resulted in an increase in numbers in the Maritime UK Solent network to 900.

The team championed the region internationally, including a trade visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia; hosting a visit to the region by the US Government Maritime Administration (MARAD) delegation and supporting an international trade visit by government representatives from Indonesia.

Other highlights included:

• More than 160 local teenagers, aged from 15 to 19, were inspired to learn about the career options open to them in the maritime industry when they visited Maritime UK Solent’s Careers Open Day at Seawork, Europe’s leading commercial marine exhibition, held in Southampton.
• Maritime experts from the Department for Transport (DfT) met with some of the Solent’s maritime business leaders on a fact-finding visit organised by Maritime UK Solent on the Isle of Wight. The visit included over 20 Solent maritime industry representatives who discussed key business activity in the region and found out what additional support the government could offer to strengthen the Solent’s maritime sector and help it to grow and innovate.
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  Stuart Baker and Anne-Marie Mountifield at London International Shipping Week

  Maritime UK Solent stepped into the spotlight at the UK’s biggest maritime event, London International Shipping Week, regarded as one of the most important shipping events in the world. It focused attention on the Solent’s flourishing maritime sector in the Maritime UK Global Trade Hub and hosted an influential Solent Investment Showcase, enabling thriving marine businesses to pitch to UK and international investors.

• Ten Solent-based maritime organisations successfully secured over £32 million funding in the government’s Zero Emissions Vehicles and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition. A significant portion of the £80 million match-funding made available by the government will now support clean innovation in the Solent.
• The Maritime UK Solent Awards 2023 celebrated the success, creativity and innovation taking place in the region’s marine industry.

Anne-Marie added: “This past year has been exceptionally successful for the maritime organisations that we’re proud to champion.

“The awards ceremony provided a platform for these brilliant maritime organisations, acknowledging their remarkable achievements and the incredible talent in the Solent’s maritime cluster.”

• muksolent.com

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