2023 marked the second anniversary of the launch of the UK Shipping Concierge and we are proud to say it has been a busy and successful one.
The UK Shipping Concierge was created to unlock sustainable growth in the UK maritime economy and over the past twelve months we have worked and engaged with industry and government to achieve that. Read on to find out how.
If you want to learn more about our work and how we could support your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Tonnage Tax
This year brought the implementation of reforms to the UK Tonnage Tax. For the first time in 18 years the Government opened a new election window enabling shipping companies to return to UK Tonnage Tax. The election window opened in June and will remain open until November 2024.
Further reforms were also finalised in the year, with the addition of third-party ship management and increases in the capital allowances both coming into effect in April 2024. These reforms signal the support that the Government is investing in the future of maritime within the UK.
New Dedicated Website
We successfully launched our brand-new dedicated website in June, creating an online hub that provides businesses with information about the UK maritime offer and why it is a great place to do business.
London International Shipping Week
In September we were proud to be Platinum Sponsor for London International Shipping Week (LISW), where we hosted a successful industry panel, titled: “In a changing world, how can government and industry work together to drive forward the UK’s competitive advantage?”.
The panel was hosted at the Global Maritime Hub and was opened by Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State for Industry and Economic Security at the Department for Business and Trade and Minister of State for the Investment Security Unit at the Cabinet Office.
The concierge also hosted two VIP tables at the LISW Gala Dinner, enabling industry to meet our new Chief Executive Officer, Virginia McVea.
Maritime UK Awards
In March we were the proud sponsors of the Business of the Year Award and attended the awards ceremony in Hull. The Princess Royal was the guest of honour, and we were delighted to see Babcock LGE win the award.
International Engagement
Throughout 2023 we attended numerous international events which served as an opportunity for us to share more about what the UK has to offer maritime businesses.
Events we participated in include Sea Asia, Nor-Shipping, the Greek British Ship Owner Forum, and Maritime Cyprus. A full programme for 2024 is currently under development.
Enquiries
Throughout the year we have supported many types of maritime businesses, from ship owners exploring new ventures in the UK, to international trade associations working on behalf of their members. We were created to support business looking to the UK for new business ventures and we look forward to another year of doing just that.
We look forward to another amazing year at the UK Shipping Concierge and welcome you to engage with us on all your business needs if operating in or interested in operating in the UK.
Happy New Year from the UK Shipping Concierge Team!
