PSP Southampton Boat Show brings major steps forward for industry
As the dust settles on an eventful PSP Southampton Boat
Show it gives us the chance to reflect on a number of successes
enjoyed by the industry. Hard work on restructuring, sales
campaigns and pruning costs by marine businesses started to pay off
as some companies announced improvements to their profitability and
others ground out some improvement in sales.
Industry recognition at government level and
with the banks is crucial in these difficult times. In this
area the BMF enjoyed three successes at the Show. The
UK Marine Growth Strategy which we have been working on for
three years was agreed and launched at the Show by the Business
Minster, Mark Prisk. It brings a more unified approach
across the wider marine industry in seven key areas of skills,
regulation, export opportunities, technical developments, common
statistics and renewable industry opportunities. The wider
industry is also developing a marine industry supply chain
process. These are early days but the
benefits could see a 4% growth in the industry by 2020.
The BMF is very much part of the supply chain
process and the
meeting at the Show was very well attended. This month we
will be seeking to draw together a group of OEMs and suppliers to
establish what we want from this process and how best to achieve
it. We are already in contact with the Manufacturing Advisory
Service who has an interest in supporting this initiative.
The meeting of major banks through the
British Banking Association Forum was also a success. The
banks want to better understand our industry through meetings with
the BMF regional groups. They have also offered a mentoring
service to the marine industry for our smaller companies and, most
importantly, one of the major banks is in negotiation with the BMF
to enter the marine finance market.
On the PSP Southampton Boat Show itself the
layout, attractions, sales opportunities and ambience were all well
received and the
111,017 visitors was a most creditable result given the weather
and the Euro crisis. Most importantly though companies ground out
some sales on the back of the Show and some reported that they did
well. The other encouraging point was that we had well over
100 enquiries to become members, including some that had left in
the past.
In short the industry continues to survive on
limited finance, clever restructuring, lean operation and
prodigious sales efforts. I am impressed by the tenacity of
the industry and I hope that the glimpses of improvement that we
saw at Southampton continue through to the Tullett Prebon London Boat
Show where encouragingly interest is growing with demand for
nearly 70% of available stand space.
Rob Stevens
Chief Executive