Email News May 2013
Welcome to the May 2013 edition of the Marine South East email newsletter
Welcome to our 'new-look' Marine South East email newsletter which this month is being supported by the government-backed, GrowthAccelerator service for high growth companies.You can read more about this service in the article below and on our website at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/Strategic_Partner/
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 2013-04-18 11:10:47
WaveSentry Sea-State forecasting project successfully concludes
On 23rd April Marine South East hosted a workshop to conclude the ‘WaveSentry’ project. Titled, ‘Improved Wave Measurement and Forecasting System & Future Developments’, the event presented the key outcomes of the project and explored technologies and opportunities for further development of wave measurement and maritime forecasting.
Delegates with a shared interest in the measurement and forecasting of waves participated in an informative afternoon. The scene was set by a series of presentations to explain the advances in sea-state measurement, data processing and portrayal achieved by the Technology Strategy Board funded WaveSentry research project.
Having demonstrated the viability of the WaveSentry system the aim now is to build upon the project’s achievements towards a commercial service. Such a service will offer improved sea state forecasting and nowcasting through the application of real-time sea-state modelling based upon the outputs of large and diverse datasets. Information is likely to be made available to subscribers through a variety of methods; forecasts will be targeted on a site-by-site basis to provide improved and targeted sea state forecasts for specific areas or routes, according to the clients’ end requirements.
The developed application will provide a context for advances in decision support applications in the broad fields of shipping management including marine renewable energy installation/servicing, shipping, search and rescue operations, cable/pipe laying, marine operations coordination, oil and gas activities, fisheries, coastal management, flood management and coastal leisure activities.
The fully operational system will provide data product outputs based around a set of sea-state parameters and will present this information according to the needs of the end-user community. Throughout the project wide-ranging end user groups have been consulted to ensure the output is one of value and worth to potential customers. Furthermore, this work helped address developments in visualisation, user interaction and the characterisation and handling of error.
To learn more about WaveSentry please contact: Simon Powell, Marine South East Ltd: mailto:sp@mseuk.org
Posted 2013-05-01 11:24:16
Update your company details
Along with the re-design of the MSE website we are also planning to evolve our company database into a procurement portal which will be promoted in the future in key markets such as offshore wind.
Please take the time to check the online details currently held for your company by clicking here:
http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/Marine%20Buisness%20Database/edit/
You can easily amend and update your details.
If your company is not currently registered please click on the following link to add your details to our database.
http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/register2/
Posted 2013-04-18 12:34:17
Introduction to the new REMCap European Project
Traditionally, the maritime industries have been slow to explore how demands for resource efficiency would impact on them. Fish stock depletion and rising fuel costs have, of course, risen quickly up the political and commercial agendas, and shipping companies as well as builders and engine manufacturers have invested in improving fuel efficiency.
However, the wider needs for maritime resource efficiency are posing challenges which in many cases lack viable solutions. Emerging marine activities (for example in exploiting marine renewable energy) are presenting new opportunities for innovation, but are also highlighting areas where further improvements in resource efficiency need to be achieved.
European member states contain a number of Regional Research Driven Clusters (RRDCs) which are active in the fields of maritime development and marine & coastal resource management.
This project will add significant value to this existing cluster infrastructure, via three main approaches that will support their long-term development and sustainability:
* Facilitating interaction and knowledge exchange between RRDCs each focused on its world-class strengths (Smart Specialisation);
* Raising the effectiveness of RRDCs by strengthening shared approaches to innovation support;
* Using RRDC activities to stimulate involvement of supply chain companies.
To be kept informed of the project please visit the project's Groupspaces site at
http://groupspaces.com/REMCAP/
Posted 2013-04-18 11:22:03
New website for Marine South East
Marine South East has updated and re-designed its website in order to better reflect our new wide range of activities to support the strategic growth of the marine sector through consultancy projects, collaborations, European partnerships and strategic projects.
Marine South East has been trading since 2005 as a not-for-profit marine sector organisation interacting with more than 2000 businesses across the marine and maritime sectors. In the past Marine South East has been particularly focused on the South East of England but it is now working actively with other strong UK maritime regions as well as in extensively as Europe and further afield.
To find out more about the aims, capabilities of experience of Marine South East please visit our new website at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2013-04-18 11:19:10
GrowthAccelerator's top 10 tips for business growth
Miranda Morgan of GrowthAccelerator, which connects fast-growing businesses to the support and coaching they need to achieve their potential, gives her top 10 tips on ways businesses can use coaching to achieve growth.
1. Consider the bigger picture.
Running a business day-to-day can distract even the best MDs from their longer-term vision. Do you need an additional perspective from somebody whose role is to support you in defining where you should be focusing, both immediately and to achieve your long-term goals?
2. Think about networking opportunities.
Can your business coach connect you to others in your peer group or outside parties who can offer additional valuable advice?
3. Use your coach to take a strategic look at your business.
Coaches can help to identify new markets or opportunities, and support you with the advice you need to capitalise on these. Sometimes you need to work on the business rather than in the business to maintain your focus.
4. Ask your coach about their setbacks as well as their successes.
Finding out the lessons your coach has learnt in their own business experience will allow you to use their learning curve to understand the pitfalls you need to watch out for. Many GrowthAccelerator coaches were MDs before they became coaches.
5. Recent research by GrowthAccelerator found that one in five (17%) of businesses see access to finance as a key enabler to boosting growth.
Your coach can help you investigate the different means of obtaining finance to ensure the best and most suitable support.
6. Revisit your business plan.
Based on what you've learnt from coaching, does your business plan now reflect the best strategy to position yourself for future growth? Does it still provide the means for you to stay one step ahead of your competitors?
7. Use your coach to be self-critical.
Leadership & management coaching can help you ensure your senior management team has the skills you need as a business to move towards growth.
8. Your coach can help you really drill down to find your business 'pain'.
Do you need to raise finance, or do you really need better systems to collect what you are owed?
9. Think specialist.
Ask your coach to help you address particular areas in your business that need addressing. GrowthAccelerator has worked with businesses to provide specific sales training for example, which has had a significant impact on the company's sales figures.
10. Take the opportunity to reassert how much you've achieved.
A coach is there to help you recognise improved ways of doing things, but ultimately to help you towards achieving your potential.
GrowthAccelerator is a service provided by the country's leading business growth specialists, which delivers uniquely tailored advice and support to fast-growing businesses. The service matches experts in business to companies with high growth potential, to provide a bespoke programme of coaching, connectivity, workshops and leadership training, all designed to help business owners and directors ensure their companies fulfil their growth potential. Further information is available at http://www.growthaccelerator.com.
Posted 2013-05-01 11:34:30
Access Apprenticeship Funding
Marine industry professionals attending a recent business breakfast at Southampton City College heard Natalie Desty (Marine Manager, Matchtech) speak about ‘The Marine Skills Gap and its Impact on Industry’ report which she had published.
Natalie highlighted the problems affecting marine companies of all sizes due to the shortage of people with the required skills and noted that this was not just an immediate concern but in the future "will seriously impact the industry's ability to provide the government-backed predicted growth".
Many marine manufacturing and supply-chain SMEs in the Solent area are already experiencing problems recruiting suitable people and are aware that if the situation is not addressed the shortage of skilled staff will drive pay-rates up in the longer term and reduce their competitiveness. Companies are now making training a key part of their business plan and using Apprenticeship training to develop their future workforce.
Some SMEs are hesitant about taking the first step but the recent Marine South East event for employers explained various solutions for recruiting apprentices. City College showed the work undertaken by its 'Marine Skills Centre' and explained how this is developed with a wide range of marine companies. One of these is Griffon Hoverworks and Mike Chalkley (Engineering Director) spoke of the benefits the company had gained from working with the College and the success of the apprenticeship scheme to build its workforce.
Mark Beckett of the Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) spoke about the CMN Apprentice Training Agency (ATA) which has been established due to demand from its member companies. Mark noted that although the ATA works with marine colleges there are instances where it develops and provides courses which are not available elsewhere. Although based in Cornwall the CMN ATA is able to assist marine leisure and supply-chain businesses elsewhere in the country and is already carrying out work with Solent based companies and colleges.
Since the event several companies have contacted City College and the CMN Apprentice Training Agency to recruit apprentices. Brockenhurst College also has several students in full time marine training who are looking to take up full apprenticeships with an SME in late June 2013 when they will have achieved their Level 2 HND qualification.
If you would like to know more about the assistance to recruit, support and fund apprenticeship training through the pathways noted above then please contact David Rea by email: david@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Please provide your contact details and David will then link you to the relevant people to discuss your requirements in more detail.
Posted 2013-04-26 14:39:03
MSE welcomes GrowthAccelerator as supporter of the MSE newsletter
The Marine South East newsletter will be supported by a number of different organisations over the next few months who can offer services and opportunities for marine companies wishing to grow.
GrowthAccelerator is first of such supporters, they offer a unique government-backed service for high growth companies.
GrowthAccelerator is a service provided by the country's leading business growth specialists, known for delivering tailored advice to high-flying businesses - advice that gets hard results. Businesses can access tailored support through specialist coaching, including; accessing finance, Leadership and Management and Business Development sitting alongside Innovation.
GrowthAccelerator is a partnership between private enterprise and government, meaning you receive exceptional value for money. So far, over 5000 of England's brightest businesses have signed up to the service in order to help them grow.
For more information on the full service offered by GrowthAccelerator please go to the following information page:
http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/Strategic_Partner/
Posted 2013-04-18 11:15:27
New principal and CEO appointed for City College Southampton
Sarah Stannard, currently vice principal of Chichester College, has been appointed as the new principal and CEO of City College Southampton.
She will take up her post in August, as principal and CEO Lindsey Noble leaves to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 13/14.
Ms Stannard said she was looking forward to building on the "fantastic transformation" that Ms Noble had made to the college over the last 12 years. During that time the college has risen to the top five per cent in the UK for success rates, undergone a £48m campus redevelopment and had the best Ofsted results in its history.
City College Southampton is a further education college based in Hampshire which provides exceptional vocational and academic training for young people and adults. Set in the centre of Southampton, the college has invested heavily in facilities and boasts a new, £34m set of buildings complete with state-of-the-art equipment.
To find out more about City College visit http://www.southampton-city.ac.uk
