A majority of business supplying the offshore wind industry are optimistic about future growth, a new study has indicated.
The Offshore Wind Supply Chain Confidence Survey conducted by ORE Catapult, which runs the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, found 63% of firms expressed an increase in confidence over the past year. The survey of 300 businesses, many of them small companies with fewer than 100 employees, was carried out between the end of September and early November.
Respondents included those dedicated to the renewables sector as well as 27% from oil and as and 25% from other sectors such as energy generation, automotive, aerospace, defence, transport and professional services who may be supplying offshore wind operators. Recruitment and retention of talent were identified as key challenges owing to the rapid growth of the renewables industry and the need for technically specific expertise and experience.
