Provision of Great British Maritime Economy (GBME) Programme Support

MCA's GBME Programme presents the case for change and a plan for action. As the Government's Maritime 2050 explained, supporting and building a green and sustainable UK Maritime economy is too important to ignore.

It is indisputable that the Maritime sector is fundamental to the UKs success as a trading nation. 95% of UK trade in goods are carried by sea. This includes 25% of the UKs energy supply and 48% of food supplies.

The sector contributes c.£17bn to GVA, supports 220,000 jobs and is comparably larger than the rail and air transport sectors. The productivity of the sector is 30% higher than the UK average; based on the average productivity of maritime workers - GVA per job increased during 2010-2017, from £70,000 to £77,000, exceeding the national average in each year.

As an island nation that was founded off the backs of seafarers, the fortunes of the UK have always been linked to the sea and nothing is more illustrative of a prosperous UK than a vibrant and growing Maritime economy.

The GBME programme will bring together projects and initiatives which are individually all designed to grow a green and sustainable UK Maritime economy and by virtue of that, improve the UKs future prospects.