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Overview
UK consultants and contractors play an important role in many of the world's major transport projects. British companies in the airport sector lead the way, providing services ranging from feasibility reports to structural engineering design. UK companies also excel in the construction of rail systems, building on both domestic and overseas experience. The UK is renowned for its great bridge-building tradition; the world's longest combined road and rail suspension bridge in Hong Kong is currently under construction by an Anglo-Japanese consortium. Britain's own trunk road network is 15,226 km long, requiring substantial investment in maintenance, whilst massive infrastructure developments such as the Channel Tunnel represent major private investment by the UK in Europe's infrastructure.
The UK railway equipment industry's turnover is some £1.2 billion, with export success in 1996 at £165 million. There is healthy demand to supply infrastructure products and services, such as project management and consultancy work, overseas. Privatisation of British Rail has led to a number of overseas operators/administrators visiting the UK to benefit from its expertise in this sector.
In 1995 the UK marine equipment industry had an estimated turnover of £825m, made up of 33% domestic sales, 35% sales to other EU countries, and 32% sales outside the EU, and representing about 0.14% of UK gross domestic product. International trade is crucial to the UK marine equipment industry, with some 67% of production exported in 1995.
The majority of this information was compiled from details supplied by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the DTI.
Government
Partnership with the Transport, Transport Infrastructure & Services
Sector
Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR)
In 1997 the former Departments of Environment and Transport were merged to become the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). In 2001, DETR became the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). As the Government Department with overall responsibility for transport, DTLR's stated objectives for this sector are: to promote modern and integrated transport for everyone and to reduce the impact of transport on the environment; and to provide customer-focused regulatory and other transport services.
Further information on specific areas within this sector, such as aviation, integrated transport, local transport, railways, roads, vehicles and road safety and shipping can be found on the DTLR web site.
DTI's Engineering Industries Directorate (EID)
The DTI's Engineering Industries Directorate (EID) acts as a focus for contact between government and the engineering sector. The Engineering Industries Directorate sponsors, amongst others, shipbuilding and railway equipment. For information on these specific areas of the sector, please contact:
Military Ships
Norman Brice
Email: norman.brice@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 1122
Rail equipment
Max Holden
Email: Max.Holden@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 1545
Ship and boat-building
Norman Brice
Email: norman.brice@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 1122
Schemes and Initiatives
Shipbuilding Intervention Fund (SIF)
SIF is grant assistance given by the DTI to UK merchant shipbuilding yards, to enable them to secure contracts against international competition in order to secure jobs at UK shipyards. The purpose of this discretionary scheme is to give yards time to improve efficiency and competitiveness, with a view to returning to unsubsidised merchant shipbuilding in the near future. In Northern Ireland the scheme is known as Intervention Aid Grant (IAG).
Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme
This scheme provides loans for the purpose of financing the construction, completion or radical alteration of ships and mobile offshore installations ("MOIs") in yards approved by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Guaranteed loans are available for up to 80% of contract value for ships and up to 85% of contract value for MOIs. MOIs are essentially rigs and certain FPSOs (floating production storage and offloading vessel).
Integrated transport task force
The DTLR's integrated transport task force was set up in January 2000. It is responsible for producing a ten-year plan setting out a long term transport investment programme, which will give a view on the level of investment needed to help deliver the policies and objectives set out in the white paper A New Deal for Transport.
Mobility Unit: Women's Transport Network
The DTLR's Mobility Unit has established the Women's Transport Network in order to promote transport systems and pedestrian environments that are safe and accessible for all, and to encourage women to enter and progress in the transport industry. Membership of the Network is open to all women and men in the transport industry who share the aims and work towards the objectives.
For details of other schemes and initiatives managed by DTLR please check the DTLR web site.
Specific Export Help for the Transport, Transport Infrastructure & Services Sector
UK Trade & Investment
UK Trade & Investment is the Government Organisation that brings together the work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) in support of British trade and investment overseas. Sector specific export help for Transport, Transport Infrastructure & Services can be found on the UK Trade & Investment website.
Other Sector Contacts
Listed below is a selection of organisations that can offer assistance to companies in this sector.
A more extensive list of Trade Associations in this sector can be found at the Trade Association Forum site.
British Marine Industries Federation (BMIF)
Export Manager: Sarah Bowden
Email: sarah@bmif.co.uk
or SBowden@bmif.co.uk
Tel: 01784 473377
Fax: 01784 439678
Society of Maritime Industries
Tel: 020 7928 9199
Fax: 020 7928 6599
Email: info@maritimeindustries.org
Website: www.maritimeindustries.org
The Society has a current membership of about 200 companies who
manufacture and supply marine equipment and also who provide
consultancy, financial and other services to the industry. The Society
has five constituent associations, all at the same address as
above:
BMEA (British Marine Equipment Association)
BNEA (British Naval Equipment Association) BOSCA (British Oil Spill
Control Association)
ABOI (Association of British Offshore Industries)
PTG (Ports and Terminals Group)
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Contact: John Bennett
Tel: 020 7665 2205
Fax: 020 7233 1806
Institution of Structural Engineers
11 Upper Belgrave Street
London SW1X 8BH
Tel: 020 7235 4535
Fax: 020 7235 2394
The Railway Industry Association
Email: ria@riagb.org.uk
Tel: 020 7201 0777
Fax: 020 7235 5777
General Business Support, Schemes and Initiatives
DTI For Business
This page lists many of the initiatives that the DTI and other parts
of Government currently operate. Included on this page are links with
various support schemes and initiatives.
DTI Information Age
This page lists many of the initiatives that the DTI and other parts
of Government currently operate. Included on this page are links with
schemes and initiatives offering guidance and advice relating to new
technology and fast access to information.
DTI International Trade
and Investment
This page offers a comprehensive menu of links to sites offering
support to exporters (through UK Trade & Investment), investors in the UK
and importers into the UK.
Companies House
From this site, you can link to a wide range of Government sites and Professional Bodies that can provide general guidance and support for all UK companies.
The Trade Association Forum
The Trade Association Forum helps associations to deliver best practice to members.
Small Business Service
The Small Business Service operate a number of schemes and initiatives that are designed to help small businesses in a variety of ways. Further information found on their website.
Regulatory Guidance
DTI Regulatory Guidance provides general guidance from the DTI and also links to other relevant DTI web pages.
The Direct Access Government website provides guidance issued by other Government Departments.
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