Email News December 2008
Foreword
Read on for the latest projects aimed at helping companies through these difficult financial times. Whether you are looking for help with funding or would like to improve your marketing techniques, the articles below may give you guidance to help move your business forward...
Posted 2008-11-30 21:40:47
Business Improvement MareNet Workshop, Tuesday 9th December 2008
Venue: The Port House, Port Solent, PO6 4TH
Marine South East is delighted to be partnering the Manufacturing Advisory Service South East to offer marine companies this highly relevant half-day Marine Business Improvement Workshop.
This workshop will enable your company to create its own Lean processes in order to achieve astonishing results.
Did you know that 95% of the time taken from order receipt to product despatch adds no value to your product or service, only cost? 'Lean manufacturing' is the name given to a range of simple yet effective techniques that aim to slash the amount of 'non-value adding' activity at little or no cost.
Lean principles are equally at home in the office as on the shop-floor and the Lean techniques can be applied through-out any business, from product design through to sales ordering, and from highly technical problem solving through to simple administrative tasks. Lean practices are highly suitable for both small enterprises as well as the world's largest businesses.
Typical benefits enjoyed by companies who adopt Lean techniques include:
- 25-50% increase in productivity
- 50% reduction in space
- 50% improvement in quality
- 50-90% reduction in lead time
- Improved cash flow
- Improved profitability
- Empowered and motivated workforce
- Improved customer service
This free introductory half-day workshop will introduce company's to the fundamentals of Lean thinking and the application of tools and techniques such as 5S, 7+1 Wastes, VA and NVA, Push vs Pull, Kanban, Flow and process mapping.
This free, interactive, marine specific workshop is ideally suited to MD's and senior managers or to those who can make changes to work processes. The methodologies of Lean are effective in every type of business from R&D through to logistics and service as well as manufacturing.
The workshop will be limited to 30 delegates so book early to avoid disappointment by either completing your details online at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/marenet or emailing admin@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2008-11-01 22:44:05
SEEDA event - Tackling tough economic times with ICT, Wednesday 10th December 2008
Venue: Millbrook Technology Campus, Southampton
The event is to disseminate the results of research done by consultants BMG earlier in the year on the impact of ICT on SMEs across the South East region and all business sectors.
It will also include presentations from organisations such as e-Skills UK, BT, Business Links, FSB, O2 and IBM. It is hoped to maintain the current interest and momentum aimed at helping SMEs with why and how they can make more productive and profitable use of ICT.
It is also hoped that there will be another event elsewhere in the region, probably Kent.
For further details and to reserve a place please contact sarahsalihi@seeda.co.uk The location can be seen at http://www.millbrooktechnologycampus.co.uk/images/Map2web.jpg.
Go to http://www.seeda.co.uk/news_&_events/press_releases/2008/20081022b.asp for further information.
Posted 2008-11-06 13:37:43
“Waterfront strategy in action” heads the bill at latest MareNet event
More than 140 delegates attended the November MareNet event, which was looking at the Solent waterfront strategy and key waterfront sites. It included a presentation from Andy Green at Trafalgar Wharf, where the event was being hosted, he gave a very interesting background into the history of the site, their vision for the future, the potential for marine companies in terms of sites, facilities and opportunities and also an excellent case study into the benefits of clustering with other marine companies on waterside sites.
The event also included a presentation from Peter Cusdin, Development Director at SEEDA, on other key sites in the region including Hythe Marine Park, Marchwood Marine Park, Woolston Riverside, Drivers Wharf Southampton, Daedalus - Lee on the Solent, Trafalgar Gate and Tipner in Portsmouth and various sites around the Isle of Wight, including East Cowes and West Medina Mills.
The Waterfront Strategy was initiated following a call from the marine industry itself which expressed concerns about the lack of available waterfront land space. It is being led by SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency in partnership with Marine South East (MSE), Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), Hampshire Economic Partnership (HEP) and British Marine Federation (BMF).
The next step in the implementation of the strategy will be when the South East Plan is published in the New Year, which the Solent Waterfront strategy has been incorporated into. For further information and a copy of the Solent Waterfront Strategy please visit http://www.solentwaterfront.co.uk
To downoad a copy of the MareNet presentation log onto http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/marenet
Posted 2008-11-29 11:11:31
Sector Focus on Marine, Aerospace and Defence
A new project to help companies get the most out of their technical staff and access funding for training has recently been launched by Marine South East and other partners to provide support to Aerospace, Marine and Defence employers across the Southeast. The Technical Skills Project (TSP) was introduced following a series of extensive surveys and research of employer needs across these sectors commissioned by Marine South East and the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium and funded by SEEDA.
Employers generally found it difficult to engage with the public sector and were confused by the huge range of initiatives available to them. Many were aware that a considerable sum of public sector investment was available but were not clear how to access the funding.
The TSP, which will be delivered by Winchester Consulting Limited, intends to help employers engage with a wide variety of funded initiatives at all levels. Winchester Consulting has been working closely with Marine Southeast, the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium and SEEDA for over a year and put together the final research programme that led to the TSP agreement.
Richard Smith, who will be leading the project at Winchester Consulting, commented "This project is an important step to help companies ensure that they have the right level of support to move forward. High tech is a growth area and we want to make sure that companies have the appropriate support to ensure they are ahead of the competition.
"For example, there is funding out there to support companies, but often they just don't know how to access it. We will be working with small and medium enterprises as well as some large companies to help them access the support they need from the variety of sources available including funding agencies, FE colleges, universities, research councils and others."
The TSP will also provide a re-deployment service which will support employers to help staff at risk of redundancy. This support will be facilitated through the use of CWeb, a web-based Placement Support and Job Vacancy database system, which helps employees at risk find new work in the same sector, while also providing employers with direct access to people wishing to work in the same sector.
This approach has been successfully applied across the East Midlands through the Midlands Engineering Industries Redeployment Group (MEIRG) and continues today through the Career Chain Project funded by the East Midlands Regional Development Agency.
The programme is due to start this month, if you would like to find out more email richard.smith@wincon.co.uk
Posted 2008-11-30 17:04:26
Marine Communities Fund deadline – Monday 5 January 2009
The Crown Estate’s Marine Communities Fund provides funding for community projects which contribute to development of best practice and make a significant contribution to the environmental management and stewardship of our Marine Estate.
Since it was established in 1999 the Marine Communities Fund has contributed over £2m to a wide range of coastal and marine environmental projects. The Fund forms part of The Crown Estate's Marine Stewardship Programme which has provided over £5.5million to research into aquaculture, dredging, and community projects.
The next deadline for applications to The Crown Estate's Marine Communities Fund will be on Monday 5 January 2009. This funding round will consider projects due to take place during the 2009/10 financial year. The types of projects that could be considered include:
- Practical projects, including beach litter cleaning schemes, marine archaeological investigations, restoration of redundant buildings as coastal lookouts, renovation of slipways, installation of new pontoons/moorings, habitat creation initiatives.
- Provision of environmental information and interpretation such as information panels, codes of conduct, good practice guides, publications.
- Education and applied research related specifically to the management of Crown Estate property and the local community, support of seminars aimed at raising public awareness of offshore renewable energy.
This year the Fund is particularly encouraging large scale projects which can help to address a number of important priority issues for the management of the Marine Estate. These could include enhancing and conserving biodiversity, creating and improving access to public amenities, raising awareness within the community of the role of marine renewables in combating climate change, and identifying ways to reduce waste and pollution.
The Fund will not support projects that offer either commercial gain or which bring personal financial benefit to the applicant. Marine Communities Fund awards will not be made for the development of business plans. More information on the types of projects we have supported in the past can be found on the Marine Communities Fund case studies page of The Crown Estate website http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/marine_communities_fund
If you wish to discuss your project before you apply to the Fund please contact Fiona Wynne (020 7851 5268) fiona.wynne@thecrownestate.co.uk
Posted 2008-11-30 17:07:09
Nominations sought for AMSI Business Person of the Year 2009
The Society of Maritime Industries, through the Association of Marine Scientific Industries (AMSI), is inviting nominations for its annual award to recognise individuals who have contributed most to the business of the marine science and technology sector in the UK.
The Society's Chief Executive, John Murray commented, "the UK marine science sector is a vibrant industry epitomised by the enthusiastic and successful entrepreneurs which work within it. This award will highlight the important work of the sector particularly at a time of enhanced public concern for the marine environment and its close relationship to climate change."
Nominations are now invited for the AMSI Business Person of the Year 2009 which will be presented at a special ceremony during Ocean Business 2009 at Southampton, UK in March 2009.
AMSI is looking for applications from a range of organisations within the marine science industry. If you are interested visit http://www.amsi.org for further information and to download or request a nomination form.
Posted 2008-11-30 17:09:00
South Hampshire skills festival will have career ideas for all on Wednesday 11th February 2009
Venue: Hampshire Rose Bowl, Southampton
A wide range of companies and organisations including colleges, universities, training providers, public services and armed forces will be providing an interactive experience at the 2009 South Hampshire Skills Festival on Wednesday 11th February at the Hampshire Rose Bowl (home of Hampshire County Cricket Club).
As in previous festivals, young people considering careers in the marine industry and other industries such as construction and the built environment, manufacturing and electronic and mechanical engineering and media will continue to enjoy excellent demonstrations and challenges to test their capability and satisfy their curiosity.
This is a chance for businesses to market their organisation directly to young people interested in the marine sector, showing training programmes available for on-the-job skills development.
This is the first time that this sort of cross-sector skills festival has been held in South Hampshire. Most of the exhibition is now fully booked, however organisers are looking for a company that would be able to bring a boat along to exhibit.
For more information on attending or exhibiting at the event contact Robin Smith on 023 80725748 or email: robin.smith@solentskillquest.co.uk
Posted 2008-11-30 17:10:42
Designing Demand half-day MareNet Workshop, Tuesday 27th January 2009
Venue: The Port House, Port Solent
This event is now fully booked
Following the success of the Designing Demand marine workshop held earlier this year, Marine South East is delighted to be offering an additional free half-day workshop for those companies who were unable to attend the first time.
The Designing Demand programme is more relevant than ever in the current financial climate and focuses on how design can drive improved business performance and lead to a stronger bottom line. Design can affect every aspect of your business from the first impression created by a company letterhead, the design of a product or packaging, to consistent communication which builds customer loyalty.
The programme has been trialed by the Design Council with more than 600 businesses across the UK taking part. Feedback has been extremely positive with 88% commenting that their strategic design projects were critical to their business success.
This half-day marine specific workshop will demonstrate how different aspects of design can impact on your business, and will show companies how better design in all aspects of business can lead to maximised profits.
The programme for the event will be in three parts:
Part 1: Design = Business - the benefits of using design
Part 2: Design = opportunities - what design can do for your business
Part 3: Design = Solutions - how design can meet your business challenges
This event is ideally suited to managing directors, marketing directors and marketing staff at all levels within your company. The workshop will be limited to 30 delegates so book early to avoid disappointment by registering online at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/marenet or by emailing your details to admin@marinesoutheast.co.uk
The workshop will start with bacon butties at 8.30am conclude with lunch at 1.30pm. If you would like to receive more information about the Designing Demand programme please contact Jackie Walker, Regional Programme Manager - Designing Demand on 01590 626524 or 07921 484646 or email jackie.walker@businesslinksoutheast.co.uk. Alternatively call Marine South East on 02380 111590 or email admin@marinesoutheast.co.uk
Posted 2008-11-30 17:11:56
South East aiming for 20% of 2012 Business – be a part of this target
South East companies have supplied 18% of all Olympic Delivery Authority contracts, according to the ODA. 123 companies from the SEEDA Region have supplied services and the ODA have tendered just 10% of the 7,000 expected contracts.
There are opportunities for a range of companies and many South East marine companies could tap into the skills that are needed to help with infrastructure for the Games. Any company that wants to bid for some of the £9 billion worth of contracts needs to be registered on http://www.competefor.com, the chosen site of London 2012 for the publication of Games related contract opportunities.
Posted 2008-11-30 17:12:59
Sea Change for coastal Dover and beyond
Exciting multi million pound proposals for Dover are being taken forward following major news from the Government confirming a £3.8m Sea Change grant - and partnership agencies are welcoming this major boost for the future.
Plans include an appraisal of a cable car from the Western Docks to Dover Castle; landscaping and artworks on the Esplanade in Dover; improvements around the historic castle, including updating the secret wartime tunnels, to allow new presentations of its history and heritage; and the refurbishment of the Bleriot Monument, which commemorates the first cross channel flight, which is due to be completed by July 2009.
Richard Barron, Kent Manager for Marine South East commented "with nearly £1billion of development planned for the next few years Dover will become one of the most attractive coastal towns to live and work in. Its natural beauty, proximity to the continent and high speed rail links to London will not only create opportunities for businesses from all sectors including marine but also offer a standard of living that is hard to beat. Dover District Council is committed to developing the marine sector and is currently working closely with Marine South East and Kent County Council to develop a Marine Skills Strategy which will ensure that there is a well trained and motivated work force available to fulfill the needs of the developing marine supply chain."
The grant has been made as part of the Government's Sea Change funding programme, which aims to support economic regeneration in coastal areas through investment in culture and heritage. Dover is one of three towns to benefit from over £10m in the first wave of Sea Change grants. The funding has been secured following a successful KCC-led bid. The County Council will also act as the accountable body for the distribution of the money.
Dover District Council, Kent County Council, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), English Heritage and the Dover Harbour Board, all part of the Dover Pride Partnership, are developing major proposals. The proposals would ensure Dover's cultural assets play a central part in the regeneration of the town, and provide better access and connectivity for visitors and residents.
Other resorts around the South East coast to benefit from the scheme include Bexhill-on-Sea, Littlehampton and Margate. To find out more about these schemes go to http://www.seeda.co.uk/news_&_events/press_releases/2008/20081027.asp
Posted 2008-11-30 17:14:14
Defra launches booklet to help companies dealing with marine licensing changes
The booklet - "Managing our marine resources - licensing under the Marine Bill" explains the changes that they are proposing to make to the marine licensing and enforcement systems through the Marine Bill and how these will work in practice.
These changes will:-
- provide a clear proportionate regulatory system to protect the marine environment and allow low risk activities to take place where appropriate;
- streamline the decision-making process, allowing more strategic and sustainable choices to be made about what we want in our seas;
- enable a more flexible and proportionate approach to be taken when dealing with licensing offences.
An electronic (pdf) version of the booklet is available on our website http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/docs/tech/ alternatively go to the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/index.htm
Posted 2008-11-30 17:15:24
Date set for next CATIA course - 9 March 2009
Following on from last year’s successful CATIA course, a date has now been set for a 2009 course, which will commence on the 9th March 2009.
This will again be a subsidised course and will consist of two five day blocks with a week's break in between, the second week starting on the 23rd March. The course is being run by Marine South East in conjunction with Southampton City College and the subsidised rates will be subject to certain criteria.
The first week will consist of the fundamentals of using CATIA and will then be followed in the second week with training in the use of the Advanced Marine Modules. The course was developed with the assistance of marine users and the feedback following the first course held earlier this year has been very positive. Many participants found that the course exceeded their expectations.
If you are a production boatbuilder, yacht designer or work in another field which involves the use of 3D software this course could be of value to you.
To find out further details please email david@marinesoutheast.co.uk or call 02380 111 597
