Port of Tyne Innovation for Growth Programme

Last week we participated in the Port of Tyne Innovation for Growth Programme at their Innovation Hub in South Shields.

The programme was developed by the Port of Tyne with the aim of bringing together SMEs from around the UK to help develop both businesses that are in the maritime sector and those that aren't, and to help create growth opportunities for those businesses.

It allowed us to highlight how Norast Supply are changing the ship supply industry with our innovative e-commerce store that enables ordering, payment and fulfilment of ship stores all, uniquely, within the confines of our website which removes the current need for requests for quotes, checking stock levels and many more unnecessary layers of communication. The digital theme was present throughout the programme, and with our e-commerce store we are aiming to be digital disrupters in the ship supply industry, bringing this area of the maritime sector into the 21st century. Want to know more about what we're doing at Norast Supply? Click here to find out. We also found out more information regarding the port's new strategic plan Tyne 2050, a long-term vision that will aim to see the Tyne become a gateway for regional transformation, fully aligned with the government's Maritime 2050 strategy and the North East Economic plan.

During the programme which spanned four sessions over two months, we participated in 'Innovation Hothouses', had in-depth tours of the port and its various departments, and heard from several guest speakers from within the maritime industry. Although port environments aren't new to us, it is still valuable to see how organisations such as the Port of Tyne operate behind the scenes. We made some valuable connections through the programme, not only within the Port of Tyne, but also with a number of other participating companies.

We were also able to discuss our environmental aims with the Port of Tyne as we plan to not only bring digitalisation to the maritime industry, but also help the sector reach its decarbonisation targets. We will discuss this more in a future blog post, but Norast Supply aim to be the leaders of decarbonisation in the ship supply industry, and our environmental commitments will help us achieve this. Watch this space.

What's next?

The culmination of the programme is the Maritime Innovation Week 2022 running from 13 - 16th June at the Port of Tyne, Newcastle as well as Canary Wharf, London. The event promises to bring together some of the most innovative minds from both inside and outside of the maritime industry, to provide insights and collaboration opportunities while addressing some of the industry’s most pressing topics.

Norast Supply will be exhibiting at both locations so if you're attending please come and visit our stand to see how we are revolutionising the ship supply industry and what it could mean for your business.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://hopin.com/events/maritime-innovation-week-2022/registration

For further information on the Port of Tyne Innovation Hub visit: https://www.portoftyne.co.uk/about-us/2050-innovation-hub