Industry leaders have been invited to play a part in Plymouth’s ambitious plans to drive growth in its four ports and further strengthen its position as a leader in marine innovation and transitioning to net zero.
A special roundtable meeting for industry leaders heard how a new Ports Strategy sets out a clear vision for growing the economic contribution of Plymouth’s ports, creating green jobs and ensuring the city remains at the forefront of marine technology, sustainable development and maritime skills.
Business leaders were asked to consider how to foster ongoing collaboration between the Council, harbour authorities, port operators, and other key stakeholders to drive forward new initiatives, and what their roles could be in making progress against the six recommendations in the strategy:
- Investing in and developing maritime skills as a key enabler of future growth and to anchor the benefits of this growth in local communities
- Preserving space for the ports with more detailed work to determine future requirements
- Maintaining Plymouth’s expertise in innovation in marine autonomy, clean propulsion and digital ocean technology
- Fostering communication and collaboration to promote Plymouth’s ports and to identify and drive forward new initiatives
- Supporting investment in infrastructure to ensure the ports remain competitive
- Recognising the significant role that the ports can play in preparing for net zero and the opportunity and benefits that this could deliver in productivity and job creation.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said:
“Plymouth’s ports are the beating heart of the city’s economy. They support a diverse range of industries and are driving innovation in marine autonomy, clean propulsion, and digital ocean technologies.
“The new strategy is a blueprint for ensuring that Plymouth remains a global leader in the marine sector while also securing long-term prosperity for our communities. The event with business leaders and port operators gave us an important chance to discuss the opportunities and get their valuable input.”
Plymouth’s ports currently underpin a marine and defence sector that employs over 20,100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), contributing 22 per cent of the city’s GVA. Plymouth also boasts the largest concentration of marine employment of any local authority in England, with sector wages exceeding both local and national averages.