Mike Penning Visit

Shipping Minister Mike Penning made a visit to Mersey Maritime today (Thursday) to meet maritime industry representatives and discuss how the private sector can help lead the economic recovery of Merseyside.

Mr Penning was in the North West to meet with council and business leaders as part of a packed schedule to hear at first hand how ambitious plans for the sector will boost Liverpool’s ongoing renaissance as the UK’s most centrally located port.

The Minister was welcomed by members of the Mersey Maritime Group board and given a tour of its pioneering Maritime and Engineering College in Birkenhead, which runs comprehensive education and training programmes including Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Workforce Development programmes.

Mr Penning then took part in a round table discussion with 30 representatives of leading maritime companies from across the region including Peel Ports, Maersk, Zim, Cammell Laird, Denholm Handling, CSAV and Meridian Marine Management.

As one of the cornerstones in the coalition government’s plans for economic growth, the Minister was keen to discuss private sector-led recovery, understand the business confidence within the audience, their plans for growth and how the government can assist in making this happen.

The maritime industry on Merseyside consists of over 1000 companies, employing more than 26,000 people and generating £2.6billion of economic output. The River Mersey also represents one of the top five freight port systems in the UK.

Mr Penning said: “I was delighted to receive an invitation to see the excellent training facilities at the Maritime Engineering College in Birkenhead for myself. Students here are trained to the highest standards on state-of-the-art equipment, which is essential if the UK is to keep producing the best maritime experts in the world. I congratulate both the staff and the students on their commitment to excellence.”

Mersey Maritime Group chief executive Jim Teasdale said the Minister’s visit was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the sector on Merseyside and to explore potential opportunities for investment and growth.

“We are encouraged by Mr Penning’s visit and the fact that he wanted to see for himself how Mersey Maritime works on behalf of the cluster,” he said. “Shipping and ports are vital not only to this region but to the UK as a whole.

“Merseyside’s maritime industry is a centre of excellence and we want to see that continue to grow, creating further wealth and jobs for the region. The role of the government in recognising and supporting us in achieving this is vital to its future success.”

Mr Penning also discussed the work of Mersey Maritime Group in working with schools and colleges to promote and provide career paths into the industry. He was then treated to a demonstration of the organisation’s ‘Quay Skills’ training simulators involving pupils from The Mosslands School in Wallasey, which has partnered with Mersey Maritime Group to encourage young people to explore training and careers in the maritime sector.

There are currently 250 apprentices at Mersey Maritime Group, with a similar number of pre-apprenticeship learners. Since 2007 more than 4,000 staff from 250 maritime companies have benefited from workforce development initiatives offered by the Group.