The Marine Sector forms a vital part of the New Forest’s economy. Our area is home to a world class boat building industry supporting associated supply chains including navigation and composites as well as award winning and top rated yacht and dinghy sailing businesses – all taking advantage of the 43 miles of coastline in the New Forest.

There is a diverse range of marine businesses based in the New Forest, from yachting to engineering, technology to design, all playing a significant role in the local economy by contributing to employment, regeneration and tourism. For example, it is estimated that every job in the core coastal marina sector supports a further 12 jobs in the local economy, through tenant businesses, suppliers and as a result of visitor and employee expenditure in the wider New Forest economy.

Marine businesses are not confined to marinas, boatyards and coastal sites and there are significant local clusters of marine businesses, including Lymington.  The area within which provision for growth and development in the marine businesses can be accommodated is limited.  Ampress is the only location within Lymington where there is scope for development; its proximity to large numbers of boats in active use, to the boating market, to other marine businesses in the New Forest, and to the sea make it highly attractive to marine activity.

The New Forest Business Partnership has set out to fill a vacuum which has emerged in understanding and responding to the needs of marine businesses,  at the same time as promoting our local marine businesses, from the waterfront to the heart of the forest, and their ability to fulfil their potential locally and nationally.

New Forest Business Partnership works to help businesses in this sector thrive and develop as well as encourage the local skills base including apprenticeships and training opportunities.  At our Marine Breakfast event in February 2015, we agreed that we’d develop a plan to help businesses in this sector (and its associated supply chains) become better embedded in the wider economy. This is currently being developed and this meeting,  to which all interested parties, representing marine businesses and activities are invited, is to help create cohesion and common benefit.

Matthew Lawson, NFBP Chairman and owner of Escape Yachting, a local marine business, said: “This discussion will help inform investment in and support for the New Forest marine business sector and be an important tool for decision makers involved in the planning and development of local economic development.”

Further details of NFBP events can be found at www.nfbp.org.uk

Buffet breakfast included.