Around 3,000 delegates from around the world descended on Glasgow today to discuss the growing offshore wind sector, generating £2.4 million for the city in the process.
Fergus Ewing MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, and Michael Fallon MP, Business and Energy Minister, will be among those to address offshore energy experts from as far afield as South Korea, Japan and North America at the major two-day event, which is supported by the VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund.
Held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Global Offshore Wind 2014 is organised by RenewableUK and will include sessions covering topics such as the long-term future of offshore energy, current developments and lessons on construction.
There will also be a series of networking events. The conference is expected to lead to expenditure of around £2.4m in the local economy.
Garth Halliday, RenewableUK’s Director of Events, Marketing and Membership, commenting about Glasgow being the host of this event said: “It’s a natural choice for us, as Scotland is at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy revolution, and this great city is home to a number of companies operating in the fast-growing offshore wind sector, including the burgeoning supply chain.
“Every time we’ve come to Glasgow, we’ve had a warm welcome in the superb facilities this city has to offer, so when it comes to creating a great impression for all our national and international delegates, this is a venue of choice.”
Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said: “Scotland has a world-class renewables sector, which is why it attracts major conferences such as Global Offshore Wind 2014. Our commitment to harnessing Scotland’s energy wealth – both onshore and offshore – will ensure that renewables continue to provide low carbon energy supplies as well as jobs, investment, and opportunities for Scotland’s communities long into the future.
“The VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund has been instrumental in helping to attract prestigious, high-yield, high-spend international conferences such as this and in helping make Scotland more competitive within the international conference market.”
Set up in 2012, the VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund has helped to secure conferences in Scotland with a predicted spend by attendees of £106 million. So far, 46 international association conferences – going up to the year 2021 – have been secured from Bid Fund investments totalling £936,000.
This has been match-funded by local authorities from around the country for selected not-for-profit conferences. The conferences, which are expected to attract a total of around 62,000 delegates, cover everything from life sciences and education to food and drink and renewable energy.
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, have all been making use of the Bid Fund, with other conferences taking place in the likes of Perth, St Andrews and Shetland.