Rory Underwood
Mersey Maritime’s monthly business network ‘Face-2-Face’ continues to grow from strength to strength with the organisers expecting a sell out at their forthcoming November 4th event thanks to a famous guest presenter.
Record-breaking former English Rugby International and RAF jet pilot Rory Underwood, who has been awarded an MBE for services to rugby, now runs a successful business performance consultancy, Wingman. He has been working with Mersey Maritime over the past 12 months to provide workshops for small to medium sized (SME) businesses in the maritime sector who are signed up to Mersey Maritime’s Sector Development Programme, an initiative supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
“Our membership has been rising month on month as businesses realise the benefits of being part of our cluster, ” said Chris Shirling-Rooke, Director at Mersey Maritime. “We are now offering more events than ever before; from business network sessions, industry-focused presentations and surgeries, to forums with partners on subjects as diverse as skills and Arctic warming and chairman’s dinners. Since cutting our teeth on organising a spectacular gala dinner as part of the Maritime Logistics & Energy (MLE) programme at this year International Festival for Business, we have also added regular social events to our programme.”
The Face-2-Face event takes place at the offices of Mersey Maritime in Birkenhead from 07.45am to 09.00am on Tuesday 04 November.
The event is regularly oversubscribed so maritime sector business people wishing to attend are advised to reserve a place by contacting Mersey Maritime on tel: 0151 647 4747.
Mersey Maritime Limited
Mersey Maritime is the private-public sector partnership that represents the interests of the shipping, ports and logistics sector on Merseyside, including improvements to the movement of freight across the region. It represents the interests of a cluster of 1700 businesses employing 28, 000 people, with a combined turnover of £2.6bn. The organisation receives funding via the European Regional Development Fund (see below), matched by private sector income raised through membership, events and consultancy services.
Maritime Sector Development Programme
The programme is open to Merseyside-based SMEs. These are defined as businesses with a registered office address in Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral or Knowsley (some postcodes excepted). They must engage in economic activity, being self-employed persons, family businesses, partnerships or associations. They must employ fewer than 250 staff and have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50m, or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43m.
SMEs may qualify for assistance from the programme if they operate in the following sub-sectors: Building, repair and maintenance of ships or boats; Business services; Cargo handling; Defence; Education, training and skills; Engineering and fabrication services; Leisure and Recreation; Navigation and safety; Offshore and underwater services; Oil and gas; Port operations, Professional maritime services; Renewable energy; Research and development; Ship management; Shipping, freight and forwarding agents; Storage and warehousing; Transport by land, air or sea; Wholesale distribution and other specialist maritime sectors.
The European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the North West. The Current ERDF programme, which is worth €755 million, is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment. ERDF is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government. ERDF’s Maritime Sector Development Programme has been extended to 2015. It aims to support productivity, business growth and job creation among small to medium sized enterprises on Merseyside, helping to enhance the competitiveness of the sub-region both nationally and internationally. For further information please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/
