Seven firms set for ORE Catapult-led Fit for Offshore Renewables program

Seven firms from north Scotland and Orkney have been chosen for the first Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) program in the region.

The F4OR supply chain growth program, led by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, takes the companies 12-18 months to complete.

The seven companies that were selected for the program are Ocean Kinetics (Kirkwall, Orkney), Orcades Marine Management Consultants (Kirkwall, Orkney), Leask Marine (Kirkwall, Orkney), Aquaterra (Stromness, Orkney), Berkshire Engineering (Wick, Caithness), Imenco UK (Wick, Caithness) and Serimax UK (Evanton, Easter Ross). 

The selected companies span various sectors, including engineering, marine renewables, offshore operations and maintenance, and subsea monitoring.

The F4OR program, developed in collaboration with offshore wind industry experts, aims to equip businesses with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the offshore renewable sector. 

Since its inception in 2019, it is said that the program has seen significant success across the UK, with five regional programs delivered and over 110 companies supported. Participants have reported an average increase in turnover of 28% and have secured numerous new contracts.

“This region already has a long and proud history of delivering engineering excellence in relation to sectors like oil & gas. As part of the just transition that we want to drive across Scotland and the rest of the UK, this programme will help these innovative local companies transfer their skills and knowledge to be ready to meet the extraordinary demand we expect to see from offshore wind in the coming years,” said Davood Sabaei, F4OR Programme Manager at ORE Catapult

“The maritime environment is where we founded our core businesses of subsea engineering, aquaculture and harsh environment imaging and communication equipment and we want to build upon that knowledge by developing products and services that capitalise on the exciting engineering opportunities presented by the renewable market,” added Iain Taylor, Manufacturing Site Manager, Imenco UK. 

The F4OR program is supported by £125,000 (approximately $170,000) from West of Orkney Windfarm. The West of Orkney Windarm will be constructed in 2027, with the first power expected by 2029.

A £105 million (approximately $141 million) investment initiative has been undertaken during the project’s development phase to cultivate the supply chain, with plans to increase this to £140 million (approximately $188 million) through match funding from third parties.