MEMBER NEWS: ORE Catapult announces new round of F40R for North East Scotland businesses looking to break into offshore renewables today

September 8, 2023
MEMBER NEWS: ORE Catapult announces new round of F40R for North East Scotland businesses looking to break into offshore renewables today

Run by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, F4OR is entering its fourth round in the North East region and will support up to 19 companies through the programme, after receiving a further £288,000 from the Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ Ltd.)

F4OR is a key part of ETZ Ltd’s two-phase support initiative alongside a challenge fund that will deliver capital investment grants to help North East Scotland energy supply chain companies achieve their low carbon business ambitions. ETZ Ltd supported the second and third rounds of F4OR in the region.

Davood Sabaei, F4OR Programme Manager at ORE Catapult, said: “The F4OR programme in the North East of Scotland has supported over 60 companies in the region so far, and we are delighted that the programme has been endorsed by ETZ Ltd for a fourth round, as part of our ambition to support the clean energy transition, boost the local energy supply chain, and accelerate the growth in offshore renewable energy.”

The latest round of the F4OR NE Scotland programme will be available to established companies in the Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray areas that are focused on moving into the offshore renewables market.

The F4OR programme aligns with ETZ Ltd’s overall ambition to create a world class energy supply chain.

Freda Miller, Supply Chain Programme Manager at ETZ Ltd, said: “Fit For Offshore Renewables has firmly established itself as a market-leading programme providing companies with the skills, insights and expertise needed to capitalise on the vast energy transition opportunities before us.

“ETZ Ltd is proud to support the programme’s fourth phase of activity across the North East of Scotland which will positively impact up to 19 companies seeking to accelerate their own low-carbon ambitions. The programme continues to grow from strength to strength and directly aligns with our ambition to reposition the region as globally recognised energy hub focussed on the delivery of net zero.”

Aberdeen-based, Brimmond, specialise in the design and manufacture of lifting, mechanical and hydraulic equipment for industry, and they recently gained F4OR accreditation on completion of the programme.

Steven Simpson, Business Development Manager at Brimmond, said:  “The F4OR programme has certainly opened our eyes to the opportunities, collaboration available, and general knowledge surrounding the renewables marketplace. With the support of our mentoring team and the weekly modules, we feel we are now in a greater position to deal with opportunities and projects within offshore renewables due to the information we have gained.  I very much encourage companies that are committed to the future renewables market to get involved in the F4OR programme as it will be rewarding –  you certainly get back from what you put in.”

The F4OR programme typically takes 12-18 months to complete and was designed alongside industry experts to support companies bidding for work in the offshore renewable energy sector.

For more information on the programme and to apply by filling in an Expression of Interest form, please click here.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 27 October 2023. More information on the F4OR programme is available here.

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AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise