News: UK’s maritime regions to gather for first time in Birkenhead
The UK’s maritime regions are to formally meet for the first time in Birkenhead later this month.
Maritime UK’s Regional Council is bringing together maritime ‘cluster’ organisations from across Britain.
Hosted by Mersey Maritime, the cluster organisation for the Liverpool City Region, representatives all corners of the UK including the Solent, Cornwall, Scotland, East of England and the Humber, will gather at the Maritime Knowledge Hub, itself a product of collaboration between industry, academia and local government.
Cluster organisations, based upon this triumvirate, jointly pursue activity in support of regional maritime growth.
Maritime UK’s strategic plan sets out steps to bring cluster organisations together, helping deliver coordinated activity in support of its nationwide priorities.
Chris Shirling-Rooke, Chairman of the Maritime UK Regional Council, and CEO of Mersey Maritime, said:
“We believe it’s very important to bring the UK’s various regional cluster organisations into Maritime UK, helping foster collaboration and to drive growth.
“Clusters are powerful vehicles to drive growth, and working with universities we’re able to deliver exciting and innovative solutions for the global maritime sector.
“It’s true that we can achieve more together than we do alone, so I’m incredibly excited about what the UK’s clusters can do together with the rest of Maritime UK.”
Ben Murray, Maritime UK Manager, said:
“Maritime UK already brings together the key organisations from the four maritime industries, and this initiative reflects the fact that there are a number of regional cluster organisations that should be part of our collective work too.
“Not only does this increase collaboration, and help us to deliver our collective growth ambitions, but it also means that we’re able to respond to the changing devolution landscape to support and benefit from regional programmes of increasingly powerful regional government.”
The Regional Council will also ensure that the clusters are involved with Maritime UK's development of the Maritime Sector Deal.