The latest cohort of ambitious UK businesses targeting success in the burgeoning UK offshore wind sector has been announced as they join the national Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme, delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and sponsored by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP). This is the second nationally based cohort chosen to receive tailored business support, focused on improving tender readiness and winning offshore wind contracts.

F4OR has been designed to support the development of an increasingly competent, capable and competitive UK offshore renewable energy supply chain, with over 150 companies having been supported through the programme since 2019. Companies completing past F4OR programmes have experienced an average 28% increase in turnover with many securing multiple new contracts.

Businesses joining this latest cohort include specialists from mechanical, marine, and precision engineering, environmental consultancy, electrical services, asset integrity solutions, offshore construction, flood defence sectors and more. Participating companies have undergone a rigorous evaluation process assessing multiple aspects of their business including health and safety standards, environmental sustainability practices, project management capabilities and financial stability, as well as their applicability to the renewable energy market.

Davood Sabaei, F4OR Programme Manager at ORE Catapult, said:

“The UK’s offshore wind sector is experiencing substantial growth as we focus our efforts on meeting the Government’s ambitious targets for the sustainable production and delivery of clean renewable energy. This has created immense opportunity for UK supply chain companies and the F4OR programme has been specifically designed to equip those companies with the right combination of key skills, expertise and leadership to win business, helping to create jobs and boosting economic benefit for the UK.

“Alongside our committed partners, the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, we are proud of our mentoring role in supporting the clean energy transition through actively boosting the UK’s energy supply chain, and progressing our nation’s net zero ambitions.”

Anil Sayhan, Programme Director, The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) said:

“We are delighted to welcome a new cohort of supply chain companies onto the national F4OR programme. These businesses have demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing their expertise and readiness, and through F4OR, they will gain the skills, insights, and strategic guidance needed to secure contracts in offshore wind.

“Beyond individual business success, programmes like F4OR enhance sector growth, bolstering supply chain capability, high-value job creation and exports, all of which reinforce the UK’s leadership in offshore renewable energy.

“OWGP remains committed to driving supply chain development through our business transformation and grant funding programmes, including F4OR. We are also grateful to the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) members for their continued support and look forward to working closely with ORE Catapult as they deliver this national F4OR cohort.”

A separate F4OR programme, specifically for businesses located in the North East of Scotland, will be delivered by ORE Catapult in partnership with the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ Ltd) with the successful companies for that programme being announced soon.