Email News March 2015
Welcome to the March 2015 Email Newsletter from Marine South East
If you would like to submit an article for consideration please email the text and a suitable image or logo to sj@mseuk.org
Posted 2015-02-05 09:59:40
Further Meet the Buyer events for the Rampion Wind Farm programme
Following the recent success of the first of three Rampion Meet the Buyer events held in Shoreham on 11th February 2015, E.ON will be hosting their second Meet the Buyer event in Brighton, some time in late April (date and venue TBC).
This event will focus on local suppliers of products and services to support the offshore construction and installation, known as offshore balance of plant.
The third and final Meet the Buyer event of the series will be held in Newhaven, some time in June / July (date and venue TBC). This event will be targeting those who are interested in supplying products and services specifically to support the Operations & Maintenance function of the wind farm. This could include those companies who can support the construction and fit out of the operations base due to be built in 2016, as well as service contracts for the base once it is up and running in 2017, and crew transfer vessels to support turbine maintenance.
Please note, both events are aimed at local companies in Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire and please be sure to register for the correct event:
End of April: Offshore Balance of Plant;
June/July: Operations and Maintenance
Full booking details will be announced as soon as the dates and venues have been confirmed.
Posted 2015-02-23 13:20:24
Improving headway in the marine industry
Innovate UK and Dstl's £7.5m Improving Energy Efficiency at Sea: Managing Energy on Marine Vessels competition closes for registrations on 4th March 2015 with applications closing a week later. Briefing webinars and opportunities to attend workshops are available.
The Marine Industries Leadership Council (MILC) is arranging workshops for the marine industry to help develop future strategies for guiding research priorities. The outcome of which will be a new UK Marine Industries Technology Roadmap, intended to provide a clear view of UK capability and opportunities presented by future developments and requirements of industry, research, academia and government.
Two of five planned events have taken place. A further three workshops are being finalised, and as attendance is likely to be limited by capacity we suggest early registration of interest to these and subsequent workshops in order to have the best chance to influence the process at this early stage.
Follow the link below for updates:
https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/vessel-efficiency
Posted 2015-02-23 13:35:07
Funding available for employers in the manufacturing sector
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) is offering employers in the manufacturing sector the opportunity to receive co-investment from a pot of £1 million.
Businesses of all sizes across the UK are invited to develop, pilot or scale-up new ways of boosting the skills and business practices needed to maximise the value of UK innovation, through the UK Futures Programme.
This competition focuses on the range of non-technological/STEM skills required to manage and commercialise innovation. We are looking for employer-led proposals to run initiatives lasting 12 months. Proposals must be joint investments, with employers investing in cash, in kind or both alongside a maximum government contribution of £150,000 per project.
Full details of this funding competition can be found at the following link:
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukces-futures-programme-skills-for-innovation-in-manufacturing-competition-brief
Projects could be focussed on: introducing new training for staff, line and/or senior managers; the development of organisational structures and processes; facilitating work placements or sharing staff between organisations; mentoring, coaching, peer-to-peer learning; building new or developing existing employer networks to address the Skills for Innovation challenges highlighted in this brief; developing or adapting tools and techniques for restructuring innovation management, aligned to broader organisational strategy. (These are illustrative and are not exclusive).
The deadline for submission of proposals is midday on Wednesday 11th March 2015.
Portsmouth University are keen to engage with any manufacturing companies who are interested in applying for the funding, as there are various ways they can support those businesses.
The contact at Portsmouth University is:
Sarah Duckering
Head of Business Engagement
University of Portsmouth
Email: sarah.duckering@port.ac.uk Telephone: 023 9284 2977
Posted 2015-02-16 12:06:46
£6m funding for Cleaner, More Efficient Conventional Fuels.
Innovate UK is to invest up to £5m in collaborative R&D and feasibility studies to stimulate innovation in the extraction and use of conventional fossil fuels. The aim is to improve efficiency, reduce cost and minimise the environmental impact of coal, natural gas and oil. Projects must be business-led and all must involve an SME.
Unconventional fossil fuels such as shale gas, shale oil and tar sands are outside the scope of this competition.
Innovate UK are allocating up to £4m of the total funding for business-led, collaborative R&D projects (industrial research), with a business partner attracting 50% public funding for their project costs (60% for SMEs). They expect collaborative R&D projects to range in size from £250k to £1.5m, although they may consider projects outside this range.
Up to £1m of the total funding will be available for smaller-scale feasibility studies (or pre-industrial research). These can be collaborative but must be led by an SME (working with large businesses, other SMEs or research organisations) or developed by a single SME. Feasibility studies also attract public funding.
The competition opens for both types of project application on 2nd March 2015. The deadline for feasibility studies, for which there is a single-stage process, is at noon on 10th June 2015. The deadline for expressions of interest for collaborative R&D, for which there is a two-stage process, is at noon on 15th April 2015.
A briefing event for potential applicants will be held in London on 10th March 2015.
For full details please follow the link:
http://engage.innovateuk.org/technologystrategyboardlz//EventMgr_BookEvent1.aspx?eID=749
Posted 2015-03-02 09:32:39
'I-Port' Optimising Intermodal Freight Transport through European Ports
The i-Port project has launched a new app to improve efficiency and customer service as well as reduce costs for hauliers moving goods through European ports.
A case study about the i-Port service is available to download from the following link:
http://www.marinesoutheast.org/docs/papers/
i-Port is a pan-European project that aims to create a cloud-based communications infrastructure that will further optimise the passage of intermodal freight imports and exports through European ports.
Funded by the European Space Agency, i-PORT, is a collaborative project between Aimes Grid Services, Avanti Communications, a number of ports, including the port of Liverpool, and several shipping lines and container hauliers. Deployment will start during 2015 within the UK and Germany.
Posted 2015-02-16 12:32:56
Encouraging schools children to consider a career in the maritime and marine sector
Attracting the interest and skill of young people to our profession can be a bit of a challenge as all too often what we do is out of sight and thus out of mind.
To help overcome this, Seavision is piloting a new educational initiative with Wyvern College in Hampshire.
The week of 6th to 10th July 2015 will be focused on maritime and marine across all curriculum subjects at the college.
Can you play a part by coming along for a day or two and staging activities that reflect skills used in your workplace?
Can you come and give a talk about what your job entails and give an insight to your working environment?
Working with over 1,000 secondary school age pupils, this is a great opportunity. Please help make this a success by taking part and also spreading the word to industry colleagues.
My contact details are: Ewen.Macdonald@seavision.org.uk
07703 187 716
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you will be inspired to take part!
Posted 2015-02-05 09:58:53
Solent LEP EU Funding Event, 10th March 2015, Portsmouth
Find out what the Solent LEP has been doing to develop its European Structural and Investment Funds and what funding opportunities will soon be available, including priorities, forthcoming milestones and actions for each of the Funds.
As well as updates in relation to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF), there will also be opportunities to learn more about the Solent's allocation from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Attendees at the event will also have the opportunity to hear directly from the managing authorities for European Funding in the Solent, including the Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs.
Date: Tuesday 10th March 2015
9.00-11.30am
Mary Rose Suite, Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth
To reserve your place please email events@solentlep.org.uk with your name, title and organisation.
Please note there is a maximum of 2 places per organisation. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis
Posted 2015-02-17 17:32:10
The Navitus Bay Supply Process: how to maximise the opportunity, 12th March 2015, Southampton
In association with Navitus Bay and CompeteFor, SOREC is hosting a conference and workshop to provide guidance for SMEs on supplying to the Offshore Renewable Energy sector.
Learn how to supply to larger contractors in the Navitus Bay supply chain. In addition to meeting industry experts, you will learn about:
* Portal registration
* Completing the business readiness form
* Optimising profiles
* Searching for opportunities
* Finding awarded contracts - sources of subcontract opportunities
* Identifying potential partners
* Completing PQQ's
* Posting subcontract opportunities
Supplying into a large project can be a daunting prospect for a small company, but one which can really help your company grow. Navitus Bay presents a significant opportunity for local companies, so you have to be ready.
SOREC, in partnership with Navitus Bay Development Ltd and CompeteFor, are putting on this event for companies to find out about this exciting opportunity and what they need to do to ensure they are best placed to make the most of it.
This event is aimed at SMEs and is free to attend. However, places are limited so please reserve your place now.
Following the event, members will be able to access further support to address specific supply challenges for their own company in a tailored, individual approach.
Email pam.jones@iow.gov.uk to find out more about the event, or register on the Eventbrite registration site at the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-navitus-bay-supply-process-how-to-maximise-the-opportunity-tickets-15666137840
