24 focus on southampton
Southampton’s skyline is on the up ...
... as is its beloved football club, with its much celebrated promotion to the Premiership
Development will begin on MDL Marinas’ superyacht inspired hotel and £50 million waterfront scheme at Ocean Village as soon as possible and phase two will include three apartment buildings up to 10 stories, providing 82 flats and a mix of restaurants, shops and offices (see page 5).
Dawn Baxendale, director of economic development at Southampton City Council, said: “This is excellent news for Southampton. The scheme will bring hundreds of new jobs and demonstrates that serious investors believe Southampton represents their future and is a city that is becoming comparable with the best in Europe.“
It is good news for the city, although controversy remains over plans – currently at the consultancy stage – for a biomass plant which would also alter the skyline. Helius Energy wants to build a £300m 100-megawatt wood-fuelled power station at the docks, bringing a renewable energy facility to the city which would be capable of powering 200,000 homes. Residents and representatives from both Southampton’s Labour and Conservative groups opposed
earlier plans, but because the scheme is classed as a ’nationally significant infrastructure project’ the final say is with the national planning inspectorate.
Helius, which claims the plant will create 100 direct and indirect jobs and contribute around £10m a year to the city’s economy, said a revised proposal placed a lower facility twice as far from the nearest residents. The consultation continues until August 3.
Meanwhile, docks owner ABP reported a 1.4% rise in revenue at the city’s port, driven by an increase in cruise passengers and improving container terminal business. ABP said its total annual revenue last year rose 3.3% to £421m, although cargo volumes fell 2.8%. Pre-tax profit rose 10.6% to £81.6m. ABP is committed to ensuring Southampton remains one of the leading container ports in the country. The group is also discussing plans for a fifth cruise terminal in Southampton.
The port saw a 19.3% rise in cruise passenger numbers in 2011 from 364 cruise calls, up from 301 calls in 2010. Recognising the importance of this sector, Business Solent
12,000 visit SeaCity in its first week
Business Solent Champions were given a guided tour of Southampton’s new SeaCity Museum recently.
The attraction, which welcomed 12,000 visitors from across the globe in its first week, tells the story of the city’s rich maritime heritage – and includes a feature Titanic exhibition.
Lee Peck, chairman of Leepeckgroup, welcomed guests and explained how his company had successfully bid for the job of branding and marketing the exciting new venture: “This is one of the finest new museums in the country. It reveals Southampton’s 2,000 years of maritime history and respectfully tells the Titanic and Gateway parts of that story.
“The museum is about making Southampton a major visitor attraction in its own right and I applaud Southampton City Council for driving this project through in difficult financial times.“
Lisa Shepherd, arts and heritage manager, added that the Titanic exhibition had already proved popular, with Titanic merchandise being restocked 43 times already: “The income from entry fees in the first week alone was £80,000 – we couldn’t have hoped for better.“
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held its first annual conference on board P&O Cruises’ Oriana last month.
’Business Without Boundaries’ focused on the region’s business and political environment and the importance of collaboration to put the Solent region on the map for growth. It also highlighted the work and achievements of Business Solent and introduced the latest opportunities and future initiatives to make the Solent region a great place to work, invest, study, live and enjoy. Keynote speaker was publisher and broadcaster Andrew Neil, presenter of TV’s Daily Politics Show and a former Sunday Times editor. The event also featured presentations from Local Enterprise Partnerships.
With the focus on training young people who may not pick the university route, a £500,000 training facility has opened at Thornhill, offering a range of options. ATL Training College, at Burgoyne Road, expects to work with 5,000 students in its first year, who will learn trades in building services and engineering. Run by Apprenticeship Training (ATL), the centre is modelled on colleges in western Europe and offers courses in plumbing, electrics, gas installation, welding, building controls, renewable technology and general construction.
Managing director Nick Hayward said: “In the UK there is a shortage of these skills at present and the gap will grow as many workers reach retirement. With university fees rising I would encourage youngsters to think about the opportunities an apprenticeship could bring, including the prospect of a career for life at the end of their course.“
Venue can host 500
Organisations seeking a venue in the heart of Southampton to provide a unique backdrop to a conference or event can book the newly-opened SeaCity Museum.
With its original design and large, airy rooms including a glass-roofed atrium, SeaCity Museum is spectacular both during the day and at night, and can cater for large numbers while also allowing guests to browse the interactive exhibits as part of their visit.
The barrel-vaulted Grand Hall makes a dramatic backdrop for drinks’ receptions and networking events; originally built in the 1930s, the Magistrates Court is available for hire after the museum closes at 5pm; the Galley café welcomes visitors during the daytime and by night doubles up as a beautiful space for hire; and adjoining it is the Atrium, also ideal for evening drinks receptions or networking events.
The whole museum can be hired, outside of opening hours, for exclusive use and can play host to approximately 500 guests.
Details:
www.seacitymuseum.co.uk THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JUNE 2012
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