Contributors
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has supported in the creation of a new regional partnership that will champion and grow Teesside’s maritime sector which has been officially confirmed by the Department for Transport.
The Tees Maritime Cluster, a private sector-led initiative supported by industry body Maritime UK, is dedicated to accelerating economic growth in Teesside by harnessing the strength and vision of the region’s burgeoning maritime sector and championing efforts to become a leading hub for the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.
The cluster will be run by an independent board and will, after initial start-up funding from the Government, become self-financing through the development and delivery of a commercial strategy.
WBD has been involved as part of the initial Project Delivery Group to lobby for the cluster’s creation, which was facilitated by PD Ports as the River Tees Statutory Harbour Authority, with support from AV Dawson Limited (Port of Middlesbrough), Casper Shipping, the Tees and Hartlepool Port Users Association (THPUA), Elite Consult, Steel Benders UK, Clive Owen LLP, and other key regional stakeholders.
The announcement of the Tees Maritime Cluster is a further development in the ambitious Regional Cluster Development Programme, led by industry body Maritime UK, as it looks to achieve priorities set out in its long-term strategy, Maritime 2050: Navigating the Future.
Peter Snaith, partner at WBD and head of the firm's international trade practice, said:
"Teesside has endless potential, and we're proud to be playing a part in the development of the Tees Maritime Cluster. This transformative initiative will bring together organisations, businesses, and individuals across the region to deliver transformative results.
"The region is an ambitious one, and with this framework in place, we will be able to move in the right direction on these shared goals, not only future proofing the maritime industry, but creating jobs, boosting international trade, and securing additional inward investment."
Teesside is home to the UK’s sixth largest port which is also England’s largest export port by tonnage, as well as the UK’s largest freeport and a range of industries and major renewable energy projects that depend on the maritime sector.
The cluster will have a focus on training and skills, aiming to create a diverse and highly skilled workforce that will help the region deliver its economic potential, enable the energy transition, and support social development in an area where 18.5% of the population is classed as living in a deprived area, compared to 4% nationally.
The cluster will help to encourage collaboration and develop international links to support business growth whilst providing a direct link to Government supported by Maritime UK.
It is anticipated further organisations will join the Project Delivery Group once the cluster is established, broadening its reach across the sector, with the cluster further supported by organisations representing around 4,000 businesses, including Tees & Hartlepool Port Users Association, the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), and North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).
