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UK businesses targeting entry or expansion in the burgeoning offshore renewable energy sector can apply for the national Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme, run by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) will sponsor a national cohort of companies aspiring to prove they are ready to tender and win offshore wind contracts. Applications opened on Wednesday 16 October 2024 with submissions accepted until 6 November 2024.

This is only the second time sponsored F4OR places have been offered to companies UK-wide. It builds upon 10 previous successful regional and national initiatives focused on helping the UK supply chain prepare to bid for work in the offshore renewable energy sector.

F4OR has been designed to support the development of an increasingly competent, capable and competitive UK offshore renewable energy supply chain – maximising opportunity, both domestically and globally. Since 2019, over 132 companies have been supported through the programme.

Participating companies undergo a rigorous evaluation process to assess aspects of the 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. Companies completing past F4OR programmes have experienced an average 28% increase in turnover with many securing new contracts.

A blend of fully-funded and partially-funded places will be awarded. ISO 9001 quality management accreditation – whether achieved or in progress – will be mandatory for medium and large companies applying to take part.

Davood Sabaei, F4OR Programme Manager at ORE Catapult, said: “The UK has forged an enviable reputation for consistent engineering excellence and product innovation and the F4OR programme provides an ideal route for companies with the right combination of key skills, expertise and leadership to make the transition to the renewable energy sector.

“We are grateful to the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership for partnering with us in this latest programme which will further support the clean energy transition by boosting the UK’s energy supply chain, help accelerate the growth in offshore renewable energy and progress our net zero ambitions.”

Anil Sayhan, Programme Director, The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) said: “We are delighted to partner with ORE Catapult to launch this UK national Fit for Offshore Renewables programme which aims to empower companies to acquire the requisite skills to improve their tender readiness as they seek to enter or grow in the UK’s fast-growing offshore wind market.

“We incorporated F4OR into our growing suite of business transformation programmes to enable more companies to effectively bid for work in the offshore wind market. We look forward to supporting more UK companies to improve their competitiveness within the sector. We are grateful to Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) members who provide our funding and we look forward to working in close collaboration with ORE Catapult as they deliver the F4OR programme.

“The F4OR programme resonates with our mission to support a globally-competitive UK supply chain – driving revenue growth, generating skilled jobs, increasing export opportunities and developing valuable UK intellectual property.”

To submit an Expression of Interest, see https://share.hsforms.com/1wpsUiG7QTv67VY8UgdBp8g2l9p2.