British Marine announced the successful return of Trade Tuesday at the Southampton International Boat Show today (17 September).

Sponsored by DF Capital, the event brought together marine industry professionals for a day of networking, learning, and innovation in a bid to strengthen industry networking opportunities and support trade business taking place during the show. With over 100 registered attendees the free event was at capacity.  Participants enjoyed a diverse programme of talks that focused on marketing strategies, sustainability and funding opportunities, alongside a complimentary breakfast and lunch.

To get the day underway, Angela Goulding, Managing Director – Powersports at DF Capital,  commented: “We are delighted to sponsor Trade Tuesday and grateful to British Marine for hosting such a significant gathering. It’s inspiring to see representatives from across the marine industry coming together.

“Trade Tuesday provides the perfect platform for all voices to be heard—no matter the size, skills, or background. It’s exciting to witness how the sector continually evolves, embracing innovation, sustainability, and the development of future talent.’”

It was then over Nicky Kildunne, Development Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for a valuable session on funding opportunities – ‘Casting the Net: Exploring Funding and Grants for Marine SMEs’. This session helped demystify the complex world of financial support for SMEs, giving attendees the tools to secure the funding needed to drive their businesses forward.

The focus then shifted to sustainability as Ross Wombwell, Technical Consultant for British Marine, lead the session “Sailing to Sustainability: Using the British Marine Decarbonisation Hub to Support Your Business’s Journey Towards a Greener Future.” Attendees gained valuable insights into industry efforts to achieve sustainability, with practical steps on decarbonisation.

The morning concluded with an interesting session with Ben Taylor, Marine Industry Presenter and Jon Partridge from RS Sailing. Ben and Jon chatted about RS Sailing’s grant funding from Innovate UK and how they used it develop the business. After which Ben shared his dos and don’ts for incorporating video marketing into business strategy.

The success of Trade Tuesday wasn’t just measured by the insightful content, but by the strong networking opportunities it provided. The event offered attendees several dedicated times to connect, share ideas, and collaborate, which many found to be a highlight.

Speaking of the event Jeff Batchelor, Deal Development, Deep Blue Systems commented: “Many of us weren’t aware of the funding opportunities, so it was really valuable to get that information. The structure of the day worked well—with talks followed by breaks, giving us the chance to discuss what we’d just learned with others, which was really beneficial. We discovered a lot of resources we didn’t know were available. That’s why we attend these events—to learn. I hadn’t known much about funding options or how decarbonisation impacts business, so it was incredibly insightful.”

Paul Martin, chair of the Marine Trades Association (MTA), member of the British Marine board and a key figure in bringing the event together commented: “The Southampton International Boat Show is one of the key events each year when the trade get together to learn, talk and discuss and this year’s event exceeded our expectations in both turnout and the depth of engagement. It’s clear that the marine trade community values this platform for networking and professional development, and we look forward to making this a regular event at the show.”

Paul also extended his thanks to Lyndsay McClay, President Elect and Chair of the British Marine South and Isle of Wight Association and Paul Knox-Johnston, Board Member and Chair of the British Marine Professional Services Association who helped organise the event.

New for the 2024 Trade Tuesday agenda, was the introduction of the afternoon drop-in clinics.  These sessions allowed members to get the latest advice and guidance, free of charge, from a wide range of Government departments, agencies and industry experts, including the Border Force, Department for Business & Trade, UK Export Finance, Marina Projects and Southern Planning Practice.

Reflecting on the success of the day, Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, concluded: “Trade Tuesday has once again shown how powerful it can be when the marine industry comes together to collaborate, share ideas, and drive positive change. The turnout and the enthusiasm from participants show just how much we, as an industry, can achieve together.”

Get your ticket

Get your discounted Southampton International Boat Show tickets – save £10 with promo code AAS2024.

Tickets for the Boat Show can be purchased online at www.southamptonboatshow.com/visitor-information/tickets/

Don’t forget, with every adult general admission ticket, two children under 17 go for free. Plus new for 2024, Young adults aged 18-21 also enjoy free admission, making this an accessible event for families and young enthusiasts alike.

Want to make your visit extra special? Treat yourself with the Quayside Club package – https://www.southamptonboatshow.com/vip/

The show is open from 10am – 6pm daily except on the final Sunday when the show will close at 5pm.  The Shipyard will remain open until 9pm on both Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 September.

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