The company plans to build larger vessels for offshore wind and diversify for sustainable growth were given a boost when Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced that the Essex-based company has been selected to receive £1 million in funding through Round 6 of the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The grant will add to CTruk’s investment for the construction of an Advanced Composites Centre, that will include a training facility. It’s expected that the project will create over 120 new jobs over the next few years, including the provision of training skills for 15 new apprentices.
CTruk chairman Pete McIntosh said;
We are delighted that our project has been selected and wholeheartedly thank all of those who supported the bid. It is our intention to continue driving UK innovation in marine vessel design and to remain competitive in a changing market. The Advanced Composite Technology Centre will enable us to diversify and grow sustainably, meeting our aspiration to be more than boat builders.
With the building set to start in the Spring, the centre will enable CTruk to build larger workboats designed to meet the demands of wind farms further offshore, educate the next generation of modern boat-builders and facilitate diversification into other commercial marine sectors, the company also plans to use its composite expertise for non-marine manufacturing at the centre in the longer term future.