Scottish Engineering is delighted to have been awarded the position of project manager for the Forth and Tay Offshore (FTO) cluster, promoting and supporting the growth of the offshore wind supply chain on the East of Scotland.

The Forth and Tay Region cluster was established in 2019 and is home to a number of major offshore wind developments as well as a significant infrastructure base. With the support and leadership from developers and local organisations the cluster has already built a strong and diverse membership base and made solid progress in raising awareness and creating access to supply chain opportunities.

Scottish Engineering, newly appointed as cluster manager, aims to build on the positive progress to date by working with the key stakeholders to deliver a range of activities designed to raise awareness of the market opportunity for local businesses, and stimulate innovation and collaboration.

Our primary focus will be on supporting the major offshore renewable projects and associated infrastructure developments in the Forth and Tay coastal areas, aiming to secure local supply chain content and create employment opportunities in the region. We will also look at wider offshore opportunities in the drive towards a stronger, internationally competitive Scottish offshore wind supply chain, helping to support the development of a net zero economy.

Paul Sheerin, Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering said:

“We are really looking forward to working closely with our partners in the FTO cluster project and its members. A significant proportion of our Scottish Engineering membership is SME based and so we are very familiar with the support and needs of SMEs. We also have experience in delivering other cluster projects; the rail cluster project and the net zero skills project both of which are focused on the key climate change agenda driven by the Scottish and UK Governments. The Forth and Tay Offshore cluster project is a fantastic opportunity to broaden our market sector support with renewable energy being a key factor in achieving the ambitious climate change targets we support.”

David Webster, Senior Port Manager Forth Ports and Chair of the Forth and Tay Offshore cluster said:

“The Forth and Tay cluster represents the most populated areas in Scotland, covering over seven local authority areas. The cluster has the highest concentration of port and industrial infrastructure in Scotland, coupled with the largest offshore wind developments. The cluster strives to promote economic activity within our communities and is there to support supply chain and provide a link and support to this industry. The national targets for offshore wind deployment are ambitious but collectively we can do it and the transition to net zero is very much in sight. The Scottish Engineering appointment will bring a high level of focus to our cluster and allow the strategic goals to be achieved and our local supply chain to be further supported.”

Shona Clive, project lead for the FTO said:

“We have a strong team at Scottish Engineering supporting this project with expertise in the renewables sector and so while I may be the project lead, the project team will work together Press Release p2 |July 2021 to make sure that we deliver value and benefit across the FTO community. Our immediate priority is to introduce ourselves to the key stakeholders and understand their priorities so that we can plan how best to provide support. This is an activity that has started in earnest now. From our previous experience we know that collaboration is key in cluster projects so we also look forward to collaborating with DeepWind, the Offshore Wind Cluster Builder, Scottish Renewables and SOWEC (Scottish Offshore Wind Council).”

To get in touch to find out more, please contact: project.manager@forthandtayoffshore.co.uk or visit our website forthandtayoffshore.co.uk.

About Forth and Tay Offshore Cluster

Forth & Tay Offshore (FTO) works on behalf of members to promote the capabilities of companies and organisations in the offshore wind sector and to assist them in accessing new opportunities.

FTO, one of eight UK offshore wind clusters, was established to drive the growth of offshore energy on the east coast of Scotland.

We’re seeking to build upon the area’s well-established strengths by developing its supply chain and workforce in support of the commitments in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal. Our vision for 2030 is for the region to become home to a thriving, comprehensive, internationally competitive offshore energy supply chain serving local, national and international projects.

For more information, forthandtayoffshore.co.uk.

About Scottish Engineering

Scottish Engineering is the membership association for engineering and manufacturing in Scotland. With a tradition and lineage dating back to 1865 in the shipbuilding and heavy engineering sectors, we now have over 360 companies and organisations in membership representing the diversity of the sector including aerospace, automotive, marine, defence, oil and gas, renewable energy, utilities, food and drink, pharma, digital tech, medi-tech and fintech.

Our membership includes some of the biggest international names in engineering, but most are SME businesses and we are represented in every corner of Scotland from the Borders to the Highlands.

Our primary purpose is to connect our network with the latest advice and support, to share best practice and to help them identify business opportunities and access new supply chains. We also provide a range of professional services to our members including training, legal and HR support and Health and Safety.

As the voice of engineering in Scotland, we collaborate extensively with government to represent the best interests of the sector and we promote the STEM skills agenda through our work with the education sector and apprenticeships.

For more information, www.scottishengineering.org.uk/.