Marine Supply Chain Development
The BMF is fully engaged in a Supply Chain Initiative aimed to
encourage and support closer collaboration and more effective
business relationships between boatbuilders, equipment
manufacturers and suppliers. The initiative is steered and
directed by an industry working group comprising boatbuilders and
suppliers. The initiative is actively sourcing potential funding
opportunities to support the UK Supply Chain in addition to
organising a series of events to facilitate effective networking
opportunities encouraging the development of beneficial business
relationships.
Excellent Business Opportunities provided by
2013 BMF Marine Supply Chain Conference
This year's conference held on 5th and 6th
March at Careys Manor Hotel in Brockenhurst was enjoyed by 87
delegates and provided an excellent opportunity for networking and
developing business relationships. 215 individual meetings were
held in conjunction with an extensive seminar programme covering a
wide variety of topics directly relevant to our industry.
A number of changes were made from last year’s event that proved
popular with the delegates: “It is great to see that the BMF
has taken onboard the feedback from last year’s conference and made
changes that have made the event even better. The organisation,
location and format of the conference have all been excellent. An
extremely useful two days spent meeting and networking with a broad
cross-section of the UK supply chain.” Grant Hooper, Princess
Yachts International
A good selection of buyers attended the event
from major boatbuilders in the commercial and leisure sectors
including representatives from Princess Yachts International,
Sunseeker International, Sealine International, Oyster Marine,
Green Marine, Holyhead Marine Services Ltd/Turbine Transfers,
Discovery Yachts, Griffon Hoverwork, Mustang Marine, Broom Boats,
Hydromax Powerboats and Babcock. The feedback from the buyers
highlighted that this event provided a highly time and cost
effective forum to liaise with a good proportion of the UK supply
chain. “The conference has been excellently managed and has
been an extremely worthwhile exercise. The opportunities for
relationship building and networking have been very useful and the
seminar presentations provided a vast amount of directly applicable
information” Damon Watker, Broom
The Conference included a networking dinner
and a thought provoking talk from Jeremy Cook, Chief Economist with
World First. He highlighted the developments in the global economic
conditions in recent years and provided some insight into potential
future trends. The blackjack and roulette tables then opened to
give the delegates the opportunity to show their casino skills, or
lack thereof in most cases.
The next day saw a number of seminar
presentations alternating with Meet the Buyer meetings and further
networking opportunities. The seminar was opened by Howard
Pridding, BMF CEO, and the delegates then heard from Stephen Hart of the Technology Strategy Board
on the increased support currently being offered to the marine
industry including the recent vessel efficiency call. Martin Hogg
from Babcock then took to the stage and provided a fascinating
insight into their policy of engagement with SMEs. Adrian Waddams of the Transport Knowledge
Transfer Network presented the support available and the
benefits that can be gained by joining this extensive network.
After a break Chris Aylett of the Motorsport Industry
Association entertained the audience with an engaging talk on
supply chain developments in that sector. David Lewin of DL Consulting then
provided some information on the approach taken by certain builders
embracing the use computer aided design and engineering.
Manufacturing Advisor with the MAS, Steve
Sharp, highlighted the comprehensive assistance available from
their service.
A busy networking lunch was followed by
presentations from Douglas MacBeth, Professor of Supply Chain
Management at the University of Southampton, talks on the
skills framework and potential future shortfall from Natalie Desty of Matchtech and
Darren Race of SEMTA. The seminar closed
with an update on government export support from Chris Uniacke of UKTI and Andrew Walker of UK
Export Finance.
Sometimes with these events it’s better to let the delegates do
the talking:
"A great opportunity to catch up with
customers old and new in a consolidated two day event. Efficient
use of time, a nice venue and I especially enjoyed the atmosphere
created by the evening's entertainment" Steve Morris, Dometic
UK Ltd
“An excellent event building on the
success of last year providing opportunities in areas such as;
inter-trading, strategic networking and the opportunity to hear and
engage with support agencies through a variety of conference
speakers. Well done to the BMF for sustaining this important
activity” Darren Race, Research and Sector Manager, SEMTA
“A professionally organised event
providing great networking opportunities. I have made a number of
extremely useful contacts – put me on the list for next year!”
Martin Jackson, Marine & Industrial Transmissions
“Matchtech Engineering Services have
had a fantastically positive event and we have made many contacts
which we are confident will lead to real business
opportunities” Andy Sims, Matchtech
“Another great opportunity for the movers
to meet the shakers!” David Lewin, DL Consulting
“The Meet the Buyer element has been a
highly effective use of time and the networking opportunities have
been superb. An excellent event.” Chris Palmer, Desktop
Engineering
“As usual a very informative event and we
have made many useful connections” Andrew Martin, Oyster
“This has been a very useful event with
fantastic networking opportunities” Nick Colin York, Holyhead
Marine Services Ltd/Turbine Transfers
2012 Supply Chain Conference
Ninety delegates have attended a two day Marine Supply Chain
Conference, organised by the British Marine Federation (BMF), which
has brought the industry together to facilitate business
opportunities.
Culminating on Wednesday 21 March, 14 buyers
from the UK’s leading leisure and commercial boatbuilding sectors,
took the opportunity provided by the BMF to meet with 50 suppliers
from the UK’s marine equipment companies and a number of Government
support agencies. Companies taking advantage of the event
included Sunseeker International, Oyster, Sealine, Princess Yachts,
Fairline, RNLI, Gunfleet Marine and Discovery Yachts and commercial
boatbuilders, Goodchild Marine Services and Buckie Shipyard.
The inaugural conference, which is part of an
ongoing initiative to support marine manufacturing companies, took
place from 20-21 March 2012 in Daventry. Delegates benefited from
excellent networking opportunities as well as the chance to take
part in the first UK only ‘Meet the Buyer’ event. The
attending boatbuilders held over 220 business meetings with
existing and potential suppliers which provided a highly cost
effective forum for doing business, giving both large and small
suppliers the chance to speak directly with influential individuals
in a professional and relaxed environment.
Adding to the two day event, a range of
speakers explained how UK boatbuilders and their suppliers can work
more cohesively together. Representatives from organisations
that can provide support to companies operating in the sector all
added value to the programme; these included The Technology
Strategy Board, the main sponsor of the event, SEMTA, the
industry’s Sector Skills Council, the Manufacturing Advisory
Service and the Knowledge Transfer Networks all added value to the
programme.
David Elson, the BMF’s Technical Director
said: “We are pleased to have brought together such a large group
of very influential people to meet, network and discuss business
opportunities. Organising such networking events is a vital
part of the BMF’s role and one of its membership benefits, as is
our Supply Chain initiative which is an important, and called for,
part of the work that the BMF is doing to focus support on the
Marine Manufacturing Sector."
“We have received very positive feedback on
our first Marine Supply Chain Conference. This opportunity
proved to have been very successful for both the boatbuilders and
marine equipment companies who have participated.”
Stephen Hart, Lead on Integrated Transport –
ITS, Rail & Marine, Technology Strategy Board and sponsor of
the Conference commented: “An excellent opportunity for
creating new innovation opportunities within the UK marine
industry.”
Grant Hooper, Director of Purchasing, Princess
Yachts said: “This has been a very professionally organised
event. The Meet the Buyer element of the event has provided a
time and cost effective way of progressing issues with our existing
suppliers and exploring new opportunities with other
companies.”
Alan Goodchild, Managing Director, Goodchild
Marine Services Limited said: “This has been a useful event for me
as a boatbuilder operating in commercial marine markets. The
timing of the event away from boat shows has provided the
opportunity to fully focus on meaningful discussions with potential
suppliers.”
Paul Gullett, Director, Wave International
Limited comments said: “It’s been a very important forum for us in
regards to both the seminar and in particular the KTN’s where we
have reaffirmed our need to use them. Meet the Buyer is
always very important as we have launched a new product recently
and gives us the opportunity to further promote Wavestream.”
Peter Nelmes, Business Manager – Marine, ZF
Services UK Ltd said: “This has been a highly successful event,
very well organised and most useful for ZF. It’s been money
extremely well spent and the best networking forum we have attended
for many years.”
Andy Sims, Operations Director, Cooney Marine
International Limited said: “It was an extremely valuable event
with positive results and outcomes. We look forward to
progression in the future.”
Supply Chain Seminar 19th September 2011
The BMF held a Marine Supply Chain event on
19th September 2011 during PSP Southampton Boat Show
which attracted more than 50 marine supply chain
representatives from small specialist SMEs to the larger
boatbuilders.
The presentations are available at:
Professor Douglas Macbeth of
the University of Southampton
Mike Goatley of ZF Services UK
Ltd
John Copley of Farnborough Aerospace
Consortium and Phil Curnock SC21 Programme Manager