A delegation of Cumbrian energy experts visited North Shields last week with hopes of creating a raft of new collaboration opportunities.

The Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster members were attending a networking event hosted at Chirton Engineering were joined by members of the NE Chamber of Commerce and NEPIC (the North East of England Process Industry Cluster. 

Attendees say that the meeting sparked several opportunities to collaborate between businesses in different regions and industries. 

Over 65 representatives from more than 40 organisations attended the event. 

Ivan Baldwin, chair of BECBC and business development director with Carr’s Engineering, said the meeting also sent out a strong message on the Northern Powerhouse. 

He told in-Cumbria: “Central Government sometimes seems to assume that the Northern Powerhouse is the M62 corridor from Liverpool over to Hull but I think we’ve seen for ourselves that there’s a real Powerhouse further north too.

“The various presentations really emphasised the opportunities for joint working and collaboration and the potential for building business relationships and strengthening supply chains. 

Liz Bowe, responsible for business development with PacTec EPS Limited and a board member for BECBC, leads its Decommissioning and Waste sector group. 

She added: “The skills and experience from nuclear decommissioning and waste management in Cumbria are transferable into other sectors such as oil and gas (and vice versa) so Wednesday’s meeting was a really good chance to see what we can learn from each other, where there might be collaboration options and how we can all make the most of business opportunities across the north of England. 

“Immediately after the meeting, just on my way back to Cumbria, I was already getting messages from new contacts who are seriously considering joining BECBC and extending their networks for the future.” 

Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster is a private sector-led group of over 280 organisations, from SMEs to global businesses.