Tees Valley Unlimited’s Managing Director Stephen Catchpole welcomed the Government’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy saying the area is well-placed to capitalise on the opportunities the new framework offers.
The Local Enterprise Partnership worked closely with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to help draft the strategy that will both promote the growth of the ambitious offshore wind market while offering the industry the certainty it needs to enable ongoing investment.
Stephen said:
“The capability of the sector within Tees Valley is reflected by the number of companies that have been name-checked in this vital industrial strategy.
“The offshore wind sector simultaneously plays to our traditional strengths of engineering and offshore work and we have a range of companies that are not only ready and willing, but also highly capable of getting involved in the new opportunities that are materialising from the renewables industry.”
The Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy highlights a number of Tees Valley companies including TAG Energy Solutions in Billingham and Heerema and JDR Cables both in Hartlepool.
MPI Offshore and MC Ware in Stokesley are also referenced for the pioneering work which has brought both within the local supply chain.
Stephen continued;
“The Strategy references our Tees Valley Catalyst Fund, which the Business Bank is looking to learn from. The Fund was initiated by TVU as a response to companies telling us a barrier to their growth was an inability to finance performance and warranty bond schemes often needed when bidding on large contracts. We can now address this.”
“It also looks at the need to develop skills and training within the industry and again Tees Valley Unlimited is ahead of the game having secured Regional Growth Fund monies to support a local skills hub.”
“This Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy demonstrates how important the Government regards this sector for the economic wellbeing and future prosperity of the UK and it is also a framework that we, and our partners, can follow to ensure that Tees Valley attracts as much investment, work and jobs as possible.”
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Press release, August 2, 2013; Image: recognitionpr