A Norfolk County Council project to alert SMEs in the region to supply chain opportunities in the offshore wind industry has been approved for GBP 22,000 funding from New Anglia LEP’s first revenue fund.
Delivered in conjunction with Vattenfall and Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, this project seeks to build the skills and capabilities of SMEs in the region, enabling them to benefit from growth in the offshore wind industry and other large-scale projects.
“Securing this funding is vital in helping local businesses take advantage of the opportunities available to them through the offshore wind industry,” Tom McCabe , interim Head of Paid Service at Norfolk County Council, said.
”The project’s aims include demystifying the procurement process and transforming ways of working, which should help to give developers confidence in the capabilities of local companies. Focused workshops and individual sessions will provide specialist advice and support to SMEs in areas of documented need, such as creating and safeguarding jobs, supporting learners and creating apprenticeships.”
The project has two phases, initially focusing on shore work and moving on to develop the offshore opportunity.
New Anglia is the Local Enterprise Partnership for Norfolk and Suffolk. The partnership has signed a GBP 290 million Growth Deal with the UK Government to deliver a range of programmes and initiatives with partners to improve infrastructure and skills and support businesses to grow and create jobs.