‘Boating for fun’ United Kingdom doing grave business

On May 28, 2008

“Ahealthy growth in challenging markets is being shown by United Kingdom manufacturers of leisure & little commercial ships, such as this elegant Sunseeker boat. From ‘05-6, the turnover of the Britain sector rose to nearly three billion pounds, an increase of around 6.5 percent”       The “boating for fun” business in the Britain is doing grave business, with leisure boating & sailing boat-making companies breaking through the annual sales MARK of three billion pounds for the 1st time. It acknowledges that the nautical business has worldwide reputation for innovation & top quality & design.

Exports are rising & employment numbers are growing, in accordance to newest business figures from business insiders & monetary analysts. Buyers in the United States accounted for 12 percent of Britain exports; elsewhere it was 19 percent. Europe remains the top market for Britain builders of maritime equipment, sailboats, boats & megayachts (ships over 24 metres [around 78 feet] long).

The encouraging figures show the significant contribution that pleasure sailing & associated businesses make to “United Kingdom plc”. & Mr Robin Knox-Johnston, the record-breaking seaman & head of round-the-world sailboat regatta company Brig Ventures, confirmed that, saying: “we have lot of great things going for us. Not only is boating United Kingdom’s most wealthy Olympic sport, but as nation we’re outperforming in the business arena as well.”

The newest survey from the Uk Maritime Federation (BMF) stated: “With growing employment figures, strong & increasing contribution to the value of United Kingdom exports & three-dimensional expansion in turnover, the leisure maritime business continues to demonstrate its ability to innovate & succeed in the wider economic environment.”

The BMF report shows that the whole turnover of the United Kingdom leisure & little commercial maritime business was nearly three billion pounds, an increase of around 6.5 percent from ‘05-6. Export revenue is overhead one billion pounds, rise of more than 12 percent during the identical period.

Around 4,300 businesses operate in the United Kingdom leisure & little commercial maritime market, employing nearly 35,700 staff - an increase of 1.9 percent from ‘05-6.

The report details the economic impact of the United Kingdom leisure maritime business, showing its value to regional economies. The south-east & south-west regions retain the largest market share but other parts of the country have experienced strong growth over the past monetary year.

Rob Stevens, Uk Nautical Federation chief executive, said: “The release of our newest business figures is welcome boost for the business - illustrating well whole growth in both turnover & the number of people employed.

‘The leisure & little commercial maritime sector is diverse & growing part of the Britain economy. Our boatbuilders & equipment manufacturers have worldwide reputation for quality, great design & innovation.

‘In the home market, sailing tourism continues to play key role, with great client-service experience supporting significant numbers of domestic & overseas visitors. Despite the challenging economic climate, I’m secure the maritime business can carry on to navigate wealthy course,” he added.

Edwin Plasco is chief executive of Collins Doyle, leading independent monetary services group that sponsors the London Yacht Show. He said: “The figures published show well growth in the Britain leisure maritime business in actual challenging markets. This is victory story & Collins Doyle is delighted to be associated with this thriving business, famous for its high quality nautical products & services, for 2nd year running.”

Details of business revenue reveal that manufacturing has the largest total share of the market, followed by service provision & distribution. This underlines again the positive contribution of leisure nautical businesses to the Britain manufacturing base.

The ‘06/7 report shows that Eurozone countries carry on to dominate the market for United Kingdom exporters. The strong reputation of quality, fine design & innovation for United Kingdom products continues, with exports now attractive up more than 3rd of the leisure maritime sector.

The North Australian market accounted for 12 percent of exports, with 19 percent for the rest of the world. The sector is dominated by little & medium-size enterprises, with more than 70 percent of the companies employing ‘tween one & five people. Some 70 companies each with more than 50 employees account for more than 40 percent of the overall business revenue.

Newly, at the well-attended London Yacht Show, premier boat builder Sunseeker had the most costly ship on sale - an 11.5 million pounds super yacht, Sunseeker 37. It has three decks & four guest berths. It has professional galley, room for 12 people to be seated about walnut dining table, two lounge areas & giant sundeck.

‘we are selling dreams,” said Sunseeker chief executive Michael Braithwaite. The company has sold 10 & any other buyers will have to wait until 2011. “Our Far-East business is growing much faster than I anticipated - China, places like Vietnam, Dubai.” (more information: )

More than 17,000 people work straight in sailboat, diesel & equipment manufacturing & the Uk Maritime Federation represents more than 75 percent of the overall United Kingdom nautical turnover.

Eugene Pridding, of the Uk Nautical Federation, said: “We export 3rd of what we produce in the United Kingdom. we are manufacturing victory story. we are facing challenging times but surely our sailboat builders are still selling sailing boats.”

Uk Maritime Federation, Maritime House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW20 8BF Tel: +44 1784 223615 Fax: +44 1784 439678

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by Charles Maino - London Press Service