View Newsletter Archive

---

Andy Osman of MDL at Cobbs Quay was elected Chairman of BMF Wessex at the AGM in September. He takes over from Jonathan Howe. Andy looks forward to meeting as many members as possible at the Christmas dinner on Tuesday 6th December at Salterns Hotel. Details are enclosed with this newsletter.

Along with this newsletter are two copies of the first edition of the BMF Wessex Marine Directory. Please check your entry and let Celia Sharpe know if there are any changes required for the next printing. Further copies are available for distribution to the public. Please call Celia on 01202 431088. Jim Grant from the University of Plymouth will be giving a seminar on Innovation for BMF Wessex on Monday 28th November at 5.00pm at the Marine Skills Centre, Poole. For further details please contact Celia Sharpe on 01202 431088 or email wessex@britishmarine.co.uk BUSINESS LINK WESSEX are holding the following meetings in our region;

Free evening seminars commencing at 5.30pm. Stretch Your Mind – expand your business - Paul Sloane’s Seven Golden Rules.
16th November –Poole
29th November – Bournemouth
6th December - Bridport
For further details call 08454 588557

10th November – Lymington
13th December at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy
28the February 2006 – Poole.
Joint BMF Wessex / Marenet
For further details call 08454 588557 ABYC Electrical Certification The Marine Skills Centre recently hosted one of the very few American, Boat and Yacht Council Electrical Certification courses to be held outside of the USA this year. The course was attended by delegates from companies such as Sunseeker, Marina Marbella, and Princess Yachts. Paragon and ITE Training Group also enrolled their Marine Electrical Instructor Alan Stronach, who is based in the Marine Skills centre. The course was organised by Paragon and ITE training Group’s Marine Programme Manager John Graham, based on demand from the industry. Ed Sherman, ABYC’s Curriculum Development administrator and senior instructor conducted the course and covered topics such as Electrical theory, Lead Acid Batteries, Battery Testing, Generators, Grounding and Bonding systems and troubleshooting to mention a few.
Bonnie Barsa, ABYC Education Director said: “The great benefit of this particular ABYC training event was that manufacturers took advantage of the Marine Skills Centre which is freely available to the marine industry in the South West of England”. As a direct result of the success of the course and the current demand throughout the Marine Industry, Paragon and ITE Training Group took the step of sending Alan Stronach over to the USA to attend the ABYC Electrical Certificate Instructors course, which he duly passed. The Centre is now one of only two sites outside the USA which can deliver the course. If you are interested in attending this course or would like any information please contact Alison Tilley on: 01202 570341 Olympic Ingling sailing gold medallist, Sarah Ayton, and windsurfing World Championship medallist Nick Dempsey took time out from their busy schedules to make a special visit to Poole to formally launch the Marine Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) on Wednesday 24th August. Based at the Marine Skills Centre in Poole, the Marine CoVE provides a variety of bespoke qualifications designed to equip learners with the invaluable skills required to maintain and develop the high standards of Britain’s world beating Marine Industry. Both Sarah and Nick understand that to compete at the highest levels you need a talented and skilled team behind the scenes. The best way to achieve this is by taking enthusiastic young people and providing them with the most innovative training available. They were delighted to offer their encouragement to this programme which may ultimately produce young marine engineers and skilled craftsmen who will be involved in the sailing events in the 2012 Olympic Games here in Dorset. Paragon and ITE Training Group are one of the largest independent suppliers of training services in the South of England and are supported and funded by the Learning and Skills Council. If you would like further information on Marine Apprenticeships or adult courses please contact Alison Tilley, on: 01202 570341.

Steve Potter, Manager of the Marine Skills Centre is looking out for engines and tools that can be used for the apprentices. Please contact him if you are able to help in any way. Marine Skills Centre, Fleets Corner, Fleetsbridge, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, Dorset BH17 0HL t: 01202 606520 f: 01202 606521 www.marineskills.co.uk poole.enquiries@marineskills.co.uk Find out about saving money through waste minimisation and reducing water use. A specialist advisor can come to your company for free and tell you how to save money. Call the Energy and Environment helpline on 0800 585794 24th November 2005 at Regents College Conference Centre, London. For details please fax Marie Borg on 020 7726 2080. Simon Wood Power, the owner and Managing Director of the Oval Group of Companies, based in Poole, Dorset has ended up on the Scrapheap...Scrapheap Challenge on Channel 4 that is!

Each week Scrapheap Challenge brings together 2 teams of 4 people who have the enthusiasm and skills to scavenge their way through over 200 tonnes of potentially useful junk and then build a machine that is capable of withstanding a number of tests, with each team aiming to emerge as Scrapheap victors.

The Oval Group of Companies, which Simon has been running for over 2 years now, includes Oval 316, manufacturers of a range of stainless steel tubing used in both the marine industry on handrails, furniture and deck fittings and in modern architecture, and The Tank Company Ltd, manufacturers of high quality fuel, oil and water tanks for every type of industry.

Simon’s Scrapheap team was curiously entitled ‘The Skids’, due to their motorsport background. It comprised Captain Tony, Dave and Simon T, with Simon Wood Power joining as ‘The Expert.’

"I joined the team, a group of motor racing enthusiasts after various discussions with Channel 4’s production team. It gave me a chance to show everyone how bad my fabrication and welding really is!"

Simon’s prominent background in the marine industry, and his enthusiasm for all things mechanical, came in useful, as the challenge – which was unveiled on the day – was to build a ‘Drag Boat’, which would then undergo various tests against the other team, with both teams competing for a place in the first leg of the Semi Finals on the 13th November.

The Drag Boat, which was made from rusty scrap steel had a big American V8 for the motor – very different to the aesthetically pleasing components that Oval 316 produce, which always compliment and enhance the superyachts that Simon is so used to dealing with! The drag boat, which took 10 hours to construct, unfortunately had engine problems from the start before the motor blew up after the final run, but still put ‘The Skids’ into the semi final.

The day was a real eye opener for Simon, who is more used to working from behind a desk, rather than on the production side. As Simon commented “It was tremendous fun to make back in April. Now I certainly appreciate how good my fabricators and welders really are!??????

The 2005 Scrapheap Challenge Grand Final is on 4th December 2005.

23-25 June 2006. Keep the date free.
If you have any articles to include in future newsletters please email them to wessex@britishmarine.co.uk

2008

• 2008 - May

2007

• 2007 - November
• 2007 - August
• 2007 - May
• 2007 - February

2006

• 2006 - November
• 2006 - July
• 2006 - May
• 2006 - February

2005

• 2005 - November
• 2005 - September
• 2005 - May
• 2005 - March