30 DECEMBER 2015 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com
Markets & Regions
UK | EQUIPMENT
was a real buzz in the air,” Evans remarked.
In the competitive world of deck fittings for
cruising and performance yachts, Barton Marine is
upbeat about the future of manufacturing in the UK.
“UK Marine manufacturing is world class, and the
value of Brand UK is considerable,” said Paul Botterill,
managing director of Barton Marine. “Customers
the world over know a UK manufactured product
will be high quality and reliable, and that gives
additional confidence to purchasing decisions. Our
customers are drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit and
innovation found in many privately owned companies
within the industry.”
Once again, the ability to customize is seen
as a major advantage. “We can take a customer’s
requirement from the drawing board to actual
installation on a boat in weeks instead of months,”
Botterill said. As for overseas markets, Barton has
enjoyed a good 2015.
SBarton Marine
launched four
new products at
METSTRADE 2015TBottom left:
The Lumishore
workshop. Bottom
right: Lewmar
products onboard“Northern Europe in particular looks set for
considerable growth, and Germany is our current
‘stand out’ territory,” Botterill remarked. “Overall
it has been a very good year for Barton Marine,
rounded off with four new products launching at
METSTRADE to great acclaim. We are very positive
about 2016.”
Another leading UK manufacturer, Portsmouth-
based Lewmar, endorses this opinion. “Europe
remains difficult, but the US is showing strong
growth,” said Marketing Manager Anne Sydenham.
“Turnover is up by 2-3% in Europe, and 20% in the
US, so we have remained profitable in 2015 despite
our biggest market being the Eurozone.” Lewmar
has also been investing heavily in new products,
several of which were launched at METSTRADE,
and including a wide portfolio from electric sliding
windows to retractable garage winches. “Lewmar
feels that next year will see a recovery in Europe, and
when combined with our new product offerings will
contribute to healthy growth for the company.”THE FUTURE
Key to the UK’s continued success right across the
manufacturing sector is filling the skills gaps, and
here British Marine (formerly the British Marine
Federation) is working with the government to
encourage more opportunities for young people. This
includes an initiative to attract females into marine
engineering.
“We have a particular focus on apprenticeships,”
said BM’s chief executive Howard Pridding. “We are
actively pursuing the Trailblazer Scheme, and have
a close relationship with the Worshipful Company of
Shipwrights. Both of these initiatives are helping to
create young craftsmen with key skills.
Apprenticeships are an integral part of many of
the manufacturers we spoke to. Discovery Yachts, for