Boost for offshore wind sector

Bosses at the GROW:OffshoreWind service made the announcement at a recent supplier event to promote the £1.5 billion Dudgeon Wind Farm project in Norfolk and immediately pointed to further investment in Hornsea as a sign that the sector is finally maturing. More than 900 companies have benefited from the assistance to date, which has helped firms bring new innovations to market, purchase state-of-the-art machinery and explore crucial R&D. The grants have also been used to facilitate relocation to new purpose built premise, an important feature for suppliers looking to increase capacity and manufacture larger components than they're normally used to. "When we launched at the end of 2013 we had the single aim of getting more manufacturers and technology providers in a position where they could effectively supply into offshore wind," explained Dominic Brown, head of GROW:OffshoreWind. "We feel we have achieved this, providing strategic advice and access to funding for over 900 companies, ranging from steel fabricators and composite specialists, to blade tip innovators and toughened glass specialists." He continued: "Early estimates suggest that the £7m we have allocated will safeguard in excess of 1150 jobs and, importantly, could create nearly 2500 new ones."