A new podcast series exploring the future of UK maritime and shipbuilding will launch later this month, brought to you by Develop Consulting in partnership with the Society of Maritime Industries.
The Maritime Forecast will bring together industry leaders, government officials, shipyard operators and operational improvement specialists to discuss the critical issues facing the UK maritime sector, from defence procurement and skills shortages to operational excellence and international competition.
Darren Jones, Maritime Director at Develop Consulting and host of the series, said: “The UK maritime sector stands at a critical juncture. With global tensions rising and increased pressure on NATO members to strengthen defence capabilities, there are significant opportunities for UK shipbuilding. But we also face real challenges around skills, capacity and international competition.”
He added: “The Maritime Forecast will tackle these issues head on. We’ll explore what UK maritime needs to compete on the world stage, how operational excellence can be our competitive advantage, and what lessons we can learn from other sectors like rail and aerospace that have already been through similar transformations.”
The podcast is produced in conjunction with the Society of Maritime Industries, which represents over 200 maritime companies across the UK.
Mr Jones said: “We’re delighted to partner with SMI on this series. They are the voice of the UK maritime industry, and together we want to provide practical insight that shipyards, manufacturers and maritime businesses can actually use.”
The first episode will feature Tom Chant MBE, CEO of the Society of Maritime Industries, and Steve Boam, CEO of Develop Consulting, discussing government procurement, the future of UK shipbuilding, and how continuous improvement methodologies could help UK yards compete against subsidised international competitors.
The Maritime Forecast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at develop-consulting.co.uk/podcasts.
Watch this space for the launch announcement.
