Cornwall Marine Network hits milestone of 5,000 new jobs

Cornwall Marine Network has hit a significant milestone as it announces it has created 5,000 new marine sector jobs in the region.

Cornwall Marine Network is a not-for-profit marine trade organisation that supports marine businesses in Cornwall UK through a unique combination of innovation support, skills training and apprenticeships as well as securing grant funding to help businesses grow.

CEO Paul Wickes MBE said: “There is no other privately owned non-profit marine network in the UK or Europe that has achieved the size, scale and impact that we have. Since 2005, we have attracted more than £42 million of direct investment into Cornwall’s marine sector and as a result we have supported businesses to create 5,000 new jobs through our funded projects and our pioneering apprenticeship scheme. We have also worked in partnership with national colleagues and over 90 European project partners to share best practice.”

Chris Shirling-Rooke MBE, CEO of Maritime UK, said: “This is a monumental achievement for Cornwall Marine Network and a powerful example of the vital role regional clusters play in the UK's thriving maritime sector. Hitting the milestone of 5,000 new jobs is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and impact of their work. I congratulate the team for their amazing work in driving economic growth and skills development in the region. We at Maritime UK are delighted to see this success.”

Richard Parkinson, CEO of Inyanga Marine Energy Group, based in Cornwall, said:  “Cornwall Marine Network has helped us secure funding to seize the fast-growing global opportunities in renewable ocean energy. Our innovative tidal energy technology, HydroWing, is set to deploy in projects around the world, including at Morlais in Wales and the first tidal energy plant in Southeast Asia. We are also expanding in Canada and France.”

Another business supported by Cornwall Marine Network is Keynvor MorLift Ltd (KML), Falmouth-based marine contractors specialising in shoreline, coastal and offshore services and operations. Awarded a capital grant by Cornwall Marine Network in 2016,  KML purchased Falmouth Wharves, a rare deep-water site in Falmouth Harbour which enabled the company to grow significantly, initially creating 39 new well-paid jobs. As the company has continued to expand, a further 50 jobs have been created.

KML Managing Director Diccon Rogers said: “Acquiring the site at Falmouth Wharves was the catalyst for our subsequent national and international growth and we will always be grateful for the support from Cornwall Marine Network which has been pivotal to our success.”

Jayne Kirkham, Member of UK Parliament for Truro and Falmouth, said: “Cornwall Marine Network is a vital catalyst for Cornwall’s marine sector, helping to deliver the UK government’s ambitions for economic growth.  Their outstanding achievements have already created over £700 million of Gross Value Added to Cornwall’s economy and they are continuing to raise the bar. For example, their new pre-apprenticeship scheme, which delivers training to young people at marine employers’ premises while they are still at school, is a groundbreaking scheme that will nurture the talent of the future.”

Paul Wickes adds: “Because Cornwall Marine Network is owned by its 370 marine business members, any profits are put back into initiatives to drive growth for these businesses. Hitting the milestone of 5,000 new jobs is very much a joint achievement.

“It is also proof that our business model works. We are looking forward to working with partners to roll our exciting model out across the UK and further afield.”