More than 100 companies across the UK have now achieved a recognised stamp of approval from the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme – singling them out as ready to win work across the offshore renewables market.

Companies that complete the F4OR programme and are deemed ready to win industry contracts are awarded ‘Granted’ status. Since F4OR began in 2019, 105 companies have now received ‘Granted’ status.

The award winning F4OR programme has been developed alongside industry leaders and is focused on meeting the needs of the UK’s growing offshore renewables sector. Around 85 per cent of companies that take part come from other industries including nuclear, shipping, and automotives, with the majority transitioning from oil and gas.

 

Davood Sabaei, Supply Chain Programme Manager at ORE Catapult, said:

“The F4OR programme has currently reached 105 ‘Granted’ companies and counting – a significant milestone achievement for companies across the UK that are innovating and creating solutions geared toward the offshore renewables sector.

“Achieving ‘Granted’ status gives companies the best chance to grow and become more competitive, providing them with a platform to win new contracts.

“In delivering the programme, we strive and work with industry partners to ensure it provides a route for success within the sector, fuels a strong UK supply chain, and progresses the country towards clean power.”

The programme has been sponsored by industry leaders The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, ETZ Ltd, and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP).

 

Will Apps, Offshore Wind Strategy Director at The Crown Estate, said:

“Providing funding and support to UK supply chain companies is crucial to ensuring the UK stays at the forefront globally for offshore wind deployment, to provide developers with the confidence not only to invest and build here, but ‘buy here’ too.

“ORE Catapult’s Fit For Offshore Renewables programme is an excellent vehicle for this, now providing the opportunity for over 100 companies to play an important role in the supply chain, and we’re pleased to be involved in its ongoing success through the programme The Crown Estate is co-funding in South-West Wales.”

 

Gillian Morrison, Head of Offshore Wind for Crown Estate Scotland, said:

“The news that more than 100 companies have now achieved ‘Granted’ status under the F4OR programme is testament both to the appetite amongst businesses to be part of this vital and growing sector of our economy but also an indication of the capability of the Scottish supply chain. With such a significant offshore wind opportunity ahead of us, the help and support being provided by the F4OR initiative to businesses is a key aspect of growing the offshore renewables sector in Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland, as the manager of Scotland’s seabed, is proud to be a F4OR sponsor.” 

 

Freda Miller, Energy Supply Chain Programme Manager, ETZ Ltd added:

“It is fantastic to see so many North East Scotland businesses progress through the F4OR programme and meet the granted status for offshore renewables. ETZ Ltd has funded ORE Catapult in the delivery of the F4OR North East of Scotland programme over the years, supporting 85 businesses across the region.  Alongside this we are supporting the first Scotland-wide F4OR with partners. Crucially, F4OR enables not only greater collaboration between companies across the country, enhancing competitiveness and fostering new ideas – it also reinforces our local regions as catalysts for energy innovation and increases capability, knowledge and expertise required within companies.”

 

Granted company, Serimax from Orkney, provide welding solutions to the energy industry.

 

Murdo MacAngus, Commercial and Operations Development Director at Serimax, said:

“Serimax are delighted to be part of the F4OR programme that has helped prepare our readiness for the energy transition into offshore wind. Serimax focusses on technical know-how, site welding technology and project performance management that brings reliability and welding excellence to this industry, We have mechanised welding solutions that help to increase productivity, consistency and welding resource management that will be key to the delivery of the welded final assembly of the floating wind structures.”

 

Renewable Parts are a ‘Granted’ company based in Lochgilphead in Scotland, specialising in new and remanufactured wind turbine spare parts.

 

Martin Waterhouse, QHSE Manager at Renewable Parts, said:  

“Renewable Parts is already seen as one of the leading organisations in the UK’s onshore wind industry supply chain and the pioneer behind the UK’s first sustainable supply chain for minor corrective components in wind turbines. Its growth strategy is to become a leader in the renewable industries supply chain.

“The F4OR programme is one of the many steps we are taking as part of our plan to grow in the offshore wind sector. We are seeing continued success in the industry, and granting further strengthens our place. This is not the end of the journey for RPL as it strives to continuously improve its business excellence and with it secure more supply chain opportunities.”

 

Dai Lewis, Interim Programme Manager, OWGP said:

“We are delighted by the news that over 100 companies have achieved F4OR granted status. This is a significant milestone for both the programme and the wider offshore wind supply chain. It is extremely encouraging to see so many businesses engage with F4OR. Achieving granted status has become a recognised benchmark in the industry, reflecting the commitment, capability, and readiness of these companies to contribute to the offshore wind sector. We are proud to have funded the national cohort of F4OR which has enabled numerous participants to enhance their ability to win work in the sector.”

Following completion of F4OR, many companies secure a wide range of new contracts within offshore renewables, and many have become market-leading suppliers in the offshore wind sector.