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The team are fresh back from SMM Hamburg 2022 where they, alongside colleagues from the Department for International Trade (DIT), have been meeting with key stakeholders and businesses within the maritime industry.
Since its inception, the UK Shipping Concierge has formed and strengthened many relationships across Government for the advancement of the maritime industry. The DIT has been a key partner for many initiatives and activities to date and continues to be a significant partner in ongoing and future operations.
Asia Pacific
Significant activities with DIT commenced with joint planning and attendance to Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), alongside Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) in Singapore in March. Joint communications and branding were created, promoting a clear joined-up Government message of Global Britain. This same messaging would instigate and be used at other scheduled co-supported events. This event was the first of the UK Government partnership and drew on joint relationships to bring inward investment into UK maritime. Key takeaways from APM were the joint approach to publicising the event and the joint presence on the UK Showcase stand - a formula that would continue. In addition, several high-level agreements and enquiries followed the events at APM and underpinned the value of the event.
Nor-Shipping
The successful partnership continued at the Norshipping International Shipping Exhibition, in Lillestrom Norway in April, where an even broader event portfolio had been built. This included coordinated visits from the Secretary of State and the UK maritime dinner hosted by DIT and attended by Brian Johnson. UKSC were at hand during all events to ensure linking up of messages and industry products/offerings. The Concierge exhibited jointly with DIT and set the formula for the remaining events of the year. The event was one of the first international events post-COVID where industry held a ‘traditional’ shipping event with exhibitors displaying the latest manufacturing and equipment on the market. The event was another good exercise in brand awareness for the Concierge and enabled us to promote the UK maritime offer and its wider elements, which was continued into Posidonia in June.
Posidonia
The Concierge’s involvement with Posidonia in June started with the collaboration of speakers with Maritime London, called ‘Trade in a Disruptive World’, as well as supporting official arrangements for Government representation. The Concierge presented on the service and promoted the areas of work that we have connected on to demonstrate the value in bringing inward investment to the sector. The presentation was led by Damien Oliver amongst other senior officials including the British Ambassador, Minister Courts, and Jos Standerwick CEO Maritime London. The Concierge also supported DfT with regards to the Minister’s schedule and agreed invitations for private events with Maritime London and Baltic Exchange Board to connect enquiries and facilitate further partnerships between Government departments and Industry. Key events facilitated during Posidonia included the Ambassador’s reception and opening event at the UK embassy in Athens, followed by the opening of the UK Pavilion by Minister Courts and MCA Chairman Christopher Rodriguez.
Posidonia was seen as a great success and a springboard for future events remaining in 2022 and into 2023, the UKSC received personal letters of thanks and support following the event from Minister Courts for the coordination, guidance and support offered throughout the event.
