British Marine has published key findings for the UK’s small commercial marine sector in response to an industry call for a clear barometer measuring the performance of the entire sector. This is deemed pivotal for businesses future planning and ultimately, ensuring the prosperity of the UK industry.
According to the research, the sector generated a turnover of £182 million in 2015-16, employing 1,876 people across 395 businesses. It also reveals that over half (53.7%) of the sector’s turnover was generated by companies within the supply chain, whilst nearly a third (32.9) was from commercial marine builders and the remaining 13.4% was secured by business services.
Over the coming year, British Marine will be drilling down into small commercial marine sector data further with extensive studies into the health of this area. This will allow it to determine an accurate and robust footprint of the industry, which will form an invaluable resource for member companies to identify key business opportunities and concerns.
To aid the growth of businesses, it will also be supporting them in both domestic and overseas markets, providing ongoing detailed and valuable technical support on the full range of regulatory issues and helping build the sector’s workforce of tomorrow with the ongoing development of three new apprenticeship standards.
Howard Pridding, Chief Executive Officer at British Marine, comments: “From Silvers Marine in Scotland and Salamander Amphibious Vehicles in Northern Ireland to Holyhead Marine Services in Wales, Century Maritime in England and Aqua-Star in Guernsey, British Marine supports the small commercial marine businesses sector across the breadth of the UK. As one of the three core sectors we represent, the commercial sector is a vital element for the success of the whole UK marine industry, promoting British excellence around the world. It is therefore important that, with the assistance and guidance of the Commercial Marine Committee, we ensure we provide our members with the vital resources and services they need to grow their businesses.
“I am delighted that we have been able to present for the first time these topline figures, which portray a sector in good health, and I look forward to British Marine delivering the much needed robust data this sector is calling out for.”
