Email News January 2013
Welcome to the January 2013 Marine South East email newsletter
If you would like to submit an article for consideration please email the text and a suitable image or logo to sarah@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2012-12-04 13:22:09
Help to Access Apprenticeship Funding
MSE is working with the Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) and Marine East to help marine companies take on new apprentices. Under the banner of UK Marine Network (UKMN), these three organisations are targeting the barriers that have previously limited the take-up of apprenticeships by many marine SMEs.
Businesses involved in the marine leisure sector and its supply chains can benefit from a programme by Skills Active, the sector skills council for sport and outdoor sectors. Under this programme, MSE member companies can access advice on how best to meet specific apprentice requirements, and what funding they are eligible to receive in order to offset the costs of an apprentice.
In addition, all UKMN members are offered membership of SkillsActive's new Group Training Association (GTA). This enables employers in England running small to medium enterprises to take on more new staff as apprentices. It does this by creating partnerships between employers so they can access funding and discounts normally only available to bigger companies.
Marine companies (from all sectors of the marine industries) can also benefit from support available by an Apprentice Training Agency. Such an agency takes on all the hassle of finding and employing an apprentice, on behalf of the marine company taking on the apprentice. This eliminates a major risk for employers, which in the past has discouraged many firms from offering apprenticeships. MSE members can benefit from the marine Apprentice Training Agency run by its partner CMN. In addition, firms located in the Solent may wish to consider the 'Apprentices 4 Business' agency set up by the Solent LEP.
Firms interested in any of the support outlined above are invited in the first instance to contact David Rea by email:
david@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Please provide your contact details and the number of employees in your business, so David can get back to you with advice on how to pursue the next step.
Posted 2013-01-02 12:58:32
£8million confirmed available for R&D projects in support of marine vessel efficiency
The Technology Strategy Board has confirmed that, with additional funding from DSTL and Scottish Enterprise, they are launching an £8million competition for fast track and collaborative R&D projects related to Marine Vessel Efficiency.
They are looking for UK businesses - from inside and outside the industry - to develop solutions covering many aspects of efficiency in existing and future ships, boats, submarines, and their associated equipment and systems.
They seek innovative proposals that address the issues of improving current vessel performance and efficiency, but at the same time attract projects for future vessel design, coatings and propulsion systems.
The competition is also aiming to build collaboration across the maritime and marine industry, and develop UK-based supply chains and SMEs to underpin a national Strategy for Growth.
This competition, as with other Technology Strategy Board competitions, is aimed at stimulating innovation throughout the supply chains, and applications from SMEs and micro organisations are actively encourthe aged. Growth potential is significant throughout the supply chains in the industry, including naval, leisure, commercial and support for offshore renewables sector.
Full details can be found by following the link:
https://connect.innovateuk.org/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=9533509&folderId=9533958&name=DLFE-112497.pdf
The competition opens for expressions of interest on January 14th 2013.
What sort of innovation is being encouraged?
* light weighting and smart materials (e.g. light weight, composite materials; low-friction and antifouling coatings; self healing and nano-materials; embedded sensors);
* positioning, communications, navigation and ICT (e.g. voyage and navigation management, HCI for decision support; autonomous systems; satellite and telecoms);
* green ship technologies (e.g. next generation vessel propulsion; thermal management systems; emissions management; alternative fuels);
* vessel design and engineering (e.g. vessel hydrodynamics; advanced manufacturing processes; retro-fitting and modifications to existing assets; through-life energy-efficient design).
Fast Track
Around 10% of the budget is allocated to Fast Track projects, expected to last 6-12 months, with a total project value of £200k to £500k each. Fast Track applications will be assessed immediately after the EOI stage closes. You will need to have your consortia in place and a very clear idea of what you want to do and what your project will achieve.
Collaborative
Larger collaborative projects with project values in the range £250k to £3M, are expected to last 1-3 years. You do not have to have your full consortia finalised for the EOI stage, and the KTN can help you find partners if you need certain capabilities in order to complete your consortium. Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.
Funding Ratios
Funding will be at 60% funding for small companies and 50% for large companies.
Key dates:
Competition opens: 14 January 2013
Briefing event: 22 January 2013
Registration deadline: 20 February 2013 noon
Expressions of interest (EOI) deadline: 27 February 2013 noon
Stage 2 opens for invited applicants: 18 March 2013
Deadline for invited applications: 1 May 2013 noon
Posted 2012-12-04 14:04:42
Start Up Loans for 18-24 year olds
WSX Enterprise are delivering a new programme of Start Up Loans for young people (18-24 years old) in the Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and Surrey area.
The programme is funded by BIS but delivered by the Start Up Loans Company, which is a James Caan (Dragon's Den) organisation. They have £375,000 to loan out before April and will provide mentoring both pre and post application.
The details of the scheme are as follows:
* Loans are between £500 and £5000 (can do more)
* Only one loan per person during the life of the programme
* Multiple applicants can take out a loan each to fund 1 business (max 10 people)
* 18-24 years olds only at this point
* Flat rate of 6% until next March
* No set up or admin fees
* No penalties for early settlement
* Mentor - pre and post application
* Review at 12 months to see what other help is available post mentoring
More information is available from http://www.startuploans.co.uk
or to apply please go to:
http://www.wsxenterprise.co.uk/start-up-loans
or call 01329 22 3212
or email startuploans@wsxenterprise.co.uk
Posted 2012-12-04 13:31:09
New project on marine and coastal resource management for Marine South East
Marine South East has just begun working on a European project that will focus on innovation capacity for a resource efficient maritime Europe, targeting the whole-life efficiency of the marine extractive industries (fisheries & aquaculture, seabed aggregates and renewable energy).
A particular emphasis is on advancing Europe's capabilities in marine operational efficiency, since this has a major impact on whole-life resource efficiency, and also offers large potential for diversification into different markets.
The following marine extractive end-user markets will be targeted:
* Fisheries - reduced fuel consumption of vessels/gear and feedstock efficiency for aquaculture
* Marine renewable energy - improved resource mapping/capture and energy efficiency of installation and operation
* Aggregates - improved energy efficiency of extraction and expanded re-use of dredge spoil
In addition, these activities draw on supply chain capabilities supporting multiple end-user markets. Two critical supply chain capabilities are:
* Vessels & ships - ship design and energy efficiency, renewable fuels and improved competitiveness, also with wider application to 'green shipping'
* Surveillance & environmental security - improved effectiveness of maritime monitoring and decision support services in support of marine extractive operations
The global maritime market is on a strong growth trajectory, and this project aims to harness that growth opportunity to create economic and employment benefits for Europe. On the one hand, growth is driven by commercial megatrends such as demand for marine/offshore renewable energy, fish products and emerging potential for 'blue biotech' products; on the other hand, there is high demand for efficient use and management of the ocean resource, as described in the EU Integrated Maritime Strategy.
Increasing Europe's innovation capacity in maritime resource efficiency will underpin successful exploitation of these growth opportunities.
Partners from Sweden, France, Portugal, Ireland and Lithuania will join with Marine South East in working on this project.
For more information please contact Simon Powell; simon@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2012-12-18 15:47:44
Marine apprenticeships lead the way in the UK
The marine sector is leading the way with apprenticeships and Brockenhurst College, a foremost provider of maritime training in the south of England, is finding itself at the centre of this change of emphasis on training.
Apprenticeships are important to students, employers and vital to the long term prospects of the UK economy. They offer a viable alternative to University education offering practical training, real life experience backed up by structured tuition.
Brockenhurst College in Hampshire created a dedicated marine department 18 months ago and now has 6 staff that cover a wide range of subjects which include marine engineering, boatbuilding, composites, marine upholstery and RYA courses which are provided at Hengisbury Head. They report that all their courses are currently full with thier marine engineering courses oversubscribed by 200%.
Claire Booth, Business Development Officer at Brockenhurst College noted, 'Marine is definitely leading the way in terms of apprenticeship. We have been doing some work locally with New Forest District Council and the marine industry is in the top four areas of employment in the area. The marine department has the largest amount of apprenticeships at the college. It has risen sharply from 21 apprenticeships last year to 60 apprentices this year.'
Claire notes that apprenticeships are an ideal way forward, not only for the apprentices but employers as well. With the increase in the cost of university fees, young people want to work and gain an important foothold in the employment market. Apprenticeships are a really important way of doing that. Most importantly, 82% of apprentices are kept in employment at the end of their apprenticeships.
For more information please go to: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk
