About the SMARTA* Project

*Sustainable Marine Transformation and Assessment

Launched on 1st January 2009, SMARTA is a 3 year project funded by the European Union through its European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The project partners are Marine South East (Lead Partner), Manufacturing Advisory Service South East (MAS SE), Atkins Environmental, Force 5 Marketing and ProAction Creative.

Through its work with selected marine companies, the project will enhance the South East’s economy by encouraging the adoption of sustainable design, production and resource utilisation practices.

The fundamental aim of the SMARTA project is to pilot, validate and disseminate an approach whereby marine sector businesses can achieve a combination of economic and environmental performance improvement.

The aims will be achieved through targeting waste reduction, resource efficient manufacturing and higher value-add employment through improved product design and production. Benefits will be maximised by stimulating measurable business improvement and promoting best practice and high-value, secure employment, then replicating these benefits within the wider population of marine sector businesses (numbering around 4,000 across the SE region).

The 3-year project will:

raise levels of knowledge and innovation across the marine sector in order to support more resource efficient business practices, boosting profitability and log term competitiveness;
stimulate innovation and job creation in ecologically-driven marine sub-sectors;
reduce the rate of growth of the region’s ecological footprint whilst stimulating economic growth.

What will engagement with the project entail?

A review of your company's activities and plans, followed by a tailored programme delivered by one or more of the project partners.

The initial review will be conducted by a programme mentor; a marine sector specialist who will act as the company's prime contact for the duration of the programme, and a project partner.

They will work with you to gauge the degree to which improvements in environmental aspects, marketing or production processes could aid the company's financial performance. You can then take advantage of up to 9 days of free consultancy provided by the project partners. (5 days from an environmental expert, a 2 day brand audit and 2 days from MAS.)