Regions for Port and Maritime Consultancy ~ Merseyside

We started working in Merseyside in 2002 in connection with the Atlantic Gateway Project, and this led to the conception of MersyPort which soon metamorphosed into Mersey Maritime. 

We completed a Strategy for Mersey Maritime which remains valid to date.

We have since undertaken work related to the proposal for a new Marine Institute, and were also engaged by the Learning & Skills Council to develop a Workforce Development Plan  for the industry on Merseyside.

Most recently we prepared an Economic Impact Study.

Audit of Assets and Capabilities, Liverpool SuperPort, UK

The Mersey Partnership (TMP) commissioned Fisher Associates to carry out an audit of the physical assets in the ports, airport and distribution sectors that make up the SuperPort, and to identify the capabilities of the companies and other organisations that provide support services to it. We were also tasked to review the competitiveness of these.

This information was collated in a client database, which formed the main deliverable of this work. We also prepared a report with analysis of the competitiveness of the different assets and capabilities using criteria for strategic analysis (from the BCG Matrix and Porter's 5 Forces), based on the judgements of some 20 key stakeholder organisations gathered via a workshop session. (2010)

Liverpool Logistics Cluster Strategy ("Superport")

TMP working in partnership with Mersey Maritime and other members of a Steering Group, including Peel Group, convened to develop the concept of the Liverpool Superport. This foresees the development of Liverpool as a holistic logistics cluster integrating different modes into one City-regional competitive concept.

TMP commissioned Fisher Associates to research the concept and develop a strategy. The study commenced in March 2007, and was based on a combination of research from existing work and engagement with several leading businesses. The key tasks included:

Provide an evidence base:

• What are the key facilities and services?
• How does the Superport concept align with strategic trends in the logistics sectors?
• How does it align with policy?

Conceptualise and define Liverpool Superport in terms of what is it and what can it mean to whom?

Where and how can the concept impact on:

• Businesses
• The local and wider economy

Implementation strategy:

• Mission
• Objectives
• Core competencies
• Strategies

This was developed based on a review of logistics in the Liverpool City Region covering shipping services, ports, the airport, roads, rail, intermodal and distribution sites, and waterfront development. The strategy was formed on an analysis of the strategic environment, benchmarking against leading logistics clusters, and a review of key trends globally, and particularly in the global logistics and ports industries. (2007)

Maritime Sector Economic Impact Study Merseyside

Mersey Maritime appointed Fisher Associates to assess the contribution of the maritime sector to the Merseyside economy. The contribution was based on the direct, indirect and induced economic impacts. (2006)

The methodology relied on a combination of questionnaires, interviews, database interrogation, and benchmarking using other port economic impact studies.

The analysis showed that 1,001 limited companies are located in or near the local area and involved in the maritime sector in Merseyside. The largest concentrations of maritime-related businesses are in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral.

You can DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT here.

Irish Sea Shipping Initiative

We worked on development of a joint project with the Irish Maritime Development Organisation, the Welsh Development Agency and Mersey Maritime. The initiative investigated potential for international cooperation in three key areas:

• Developing new routes and enhancing the existing network.
• Irish Sea Cruise Ground.
• Education Training and Skills. (2005)

Maritime Workforce Development Plan, Merseyside, UK

We were appointed by The Learning and Skills Council for Greater Merseyside, working in partnership with Mersey Maritime, to address skills needs for the maritime sector. The plan provides direction for who could do what and how over the short to medium term. It was prepared on the basis of a programme of work that included:

• Baseline assessment of issues based on existing information.
• Market research in the form of workshops, face-to-face interviews, and telephone interviews.
• Interaction and discussion with the client group.

Undertaken in association with Ci Research (2 Fisher + 2 Subcon, 2005)

download the project specification (PDF document)

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