Last week, Cornwall Marine Network alongside Maritime UK welcomed over 200 delegates from across the country to the 3 day Cornwall Coastal Powerhouse Summit
With the backdrop of the amazing National Maritime Museum, delegates heard from industry and business leaders, policymakers and stakeholders, network members and the wider industry on Business and Growth, Energy and Net Zero, Infrastructure and Governance, Innovation and Technology
Keynote speeches from Paul Wickes – CEO of Cornwall Marine Network, Chris Shirling-Rook – CEO of Maritime UK, Robin Mortimer – Head of the port of London, Enora Pichon from Bibby Marine, Monica Kohl from WISTA and Sheldon Ryan – Innovation at MUK led to interesting and informative Q&A panels, questions, conversations and connections.
Takeaways from Day 1 included
- Climate change and climate resilience – we need to accelerate change, do more, much more quickly. A resilient, sustainable port is a competitive port
- Infrastructure – We have a major geography advantage but a poor legacy of Port and Harbour Investment this needs to be addressed quickly
- Governance and Collaboration – legal frameworks are very complex can we simplify. Can we do more through partnership and collaboration?
- Clear investment proposition – we need to shout louder about our existing capabilities and what we can deliver.
- Consistent support for employers and employees for apprenticeships and to support and grow skills development within their workforce
- Work to support and help school careers and outreach programmes to support pre-apprenticeship training
- Skills – we must deliver all of above to ensure opportunity for local young people
Paul Wickes – CEO Cornwall Marine Network
“Wonderful to see our marine sector turn out in force for this important and interesting event, excellent conversations, thoughts and ideas were shared that help to shape, support and lobby for our sector, and to shine the spotlight on the many world class leading businesses and opportunities we have in Cornwall”
Day 2 – Cockwells welcomes Coastal Powerhouse Summit delegation
On Wednesday, Cornwall Marine Network took a delegation of DfT, Cornwall Trade and Investment and Innovate UK to visit and hear from Cockwells about their growth plans, their apprenticeships delivered through Cornwall Marine Network and the good growth investment, which will see their Falmouth boatyard double its manufacturing capacity and create 38 new jobs.
The delegation were hugely impressed by the craftsmanship, process and structure of Cockwells and the exciting growth plans about to be realised.
Day 3 – Coastal Powerhouse Education Day
On Thursday, Cornwall Marine Academy welcomed over 40 schoolchildren for a day of exploration and discovery at the Maritime museum with ‘Build Your Own Boat’ scrapheap challenges (and races!), Lego Submerged taking the children through teamwork, problem solving and collaboration, key skills for the engineers and innovators of tomorrow
Cornwall Marine Academy has an excellent track record of delivering industry-led programmes; including Schools outreach, careers advice, taster sessions, employability skills, work placements at Marine businesses’ premises, industry recognised vocational qualifications, 1:1 mentoring, group-work and training embedded into the school curriculum.
Cornwall Marine Network were proud to shine the light on our regions Marine Economy, the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and how we can work together to realise these opportunities and to continue to ensure that people, place and planet sit at the heart of this.
Well paid, highly skilled jobs, world-class skills and continuing the tradition in Cornwall of leading the way.
Contact Cornwall Marine Network today to see how we can support you your team and your business
