19th January 2022
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched its latest business transformation activity to support the UK offshore wind supply chain in collaboration with ORE Catapult, Nuclear AMRC and Opergy.
The first national Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) Programme, delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and funded by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), is seeking applications from ambitious companies who want to get ready to bid for work in the offshore wind sector. The national programme will support 14 companies from across the UK through a rigorous 12-18 month programme focusing on improving business operations and sector competence.
The national programme will build on the success of the regional F4OR programmes that have been delivered across the UK by ORE Catapult and its partners, Nuclear AMRC and Opergy. It will bring the total number of companies supported through the programme to 88 with 20 companies having already gained the coveted F4OR Granted status thus far and many more actively progressing towards this milestone. Companies progressing through the F4OR programme typically see an increase in turnover of almost 23%, and job creation up 13%.
Developed with input from the offshore renewables industry and based on the successful Fit For Nuclear programme, ORE Catapult established the F4OR business improvement programme in collaboration with HVM Catapult’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) and supported by Opergy Ltd, with the aim of developing an increasingly competent, capable and competitive UK offshore renewable energy supply chain.
The intermediate level F4OR programme complements the existing suite of business transformation programmes developed and delivered by OWGP and partner organisations, including the Wind Expert Support Toolkit (WEST), a foundation engagement activity, and the advanced Sharing in Growth Offshore Wind Programme.
Andrew Macdonald, OWGP Programme Director said:
“The launch of the F4OR Programme in partnership with ORE Catapult, NAMRC and Opergy is a fantastic step forward, bolstering our suite of Business Transformation Programmes supporting the growth of the UK Offshore Wind supply chain. This initiative is complementary to our existing programmes and ensures we can provide progressive support to companies as they grow and increase their capability delivering to the sector. I’m looking forward to seeing the development of the selected companies and opportunities which arise for them on completion of the F4OR Programme.”
Andrew Stormonth-Darling, F4OR Programme Manager for ORE Catapult added:
“Seeing our successful regional programme being launched on a national scale is just what is needed to open the doors to any promising business from across the country. Our regional initiatives have been heavily oversubscribed so by working with the OWGP it now means we can tap into talent, wherever it emerges. This allows us to focus on supporting the entry and growth of the most committed businesses with the most in-demand products and services. I look forward to seeing how this new cohort will not only build capability, but also share it, via newly formed relationships that will ultimately help establish and maintain a stable UK offshore wind supply chain long into the future.”
The OWGP supports the delivery of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal and is funded by members of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), with a budget of £100m over ten years. Delivered by ORE Catapult, the programme supports the growth of UK businesses looking to capitalise on the huge opportunities offered by the global offshore wind sector.
Over 100 companies have now received support through either grant funding or business transformation initiatives since the launch of OWGP in 2019. Further information on this and all Grant Funding and Business Transformation programmes can be found at the OWGP website https://owgp.org.uk/
ENDS
Notes to editors:
To register for the briefing webinar at 2pm on 26th Jan 2022 please click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owgp-f4or-national-programme-launch-webinar-tickets-250015010627
About the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) is a long-term business transformation programme that has been established as part of the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal. It promotes closer collaboration across the supply chain, implements structured productivity improvement programmes and facilitates shared growth opportunities between developers and the supply chain.
Until 2030, delivery will focus on direct support to supply chain companies through a combination of strategic capability assessments, advisory services and grant funding. ORE Catapult will manage the delivery of OWGP with support from specialist delivery partners.
About the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
ORE Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK Government and is part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries. It is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy.
Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities and engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector and delivers applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.
Active throughout the UK, ORE Catapult has operations in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, Hull, the South West and Wales.
About the Offshore Wind Industry Council
A senior Government and industry forum, OWIC was established in 2013 to drive the development of the world-leading offshore wind sector in the UK.