The UK Leisure Marine Industry

UK leisure marine industry, hampshire chandlers, dorset chandlers, devon and cornwall chandlers

The UK leisure marine industry published its annual report at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show this month, announcing that the industry’s annual turnover grew to £2.8 billion in 2005-6.

The industry has grown consistently at a rate of 7.8 per cent per annum since 1997. There are now over 4,300 businesses involved in the leisure marine market, employing more than 35,000 full-time staff.

Seagoing and inland sectors-

The leisure marine industry includes both seagoing and inland sectors covering the leisure boat, hire fleet, commercial workboat and super-yacht categories and supporting services.

Comprehensive, industry-wide research

The comprehensive, industry-wide research released at the London Boat Show 2007 shows that:

• The manufacture and distribution of leisure and small commercial craft accounts for 36.5 per cent of the industry’s total turnover.

• The next largest contributors are the providers of consumer services, on 34 per cent, and the manufacture and distribution of equipment, 19.5 per cent

• A total of 33.1 per cent of the industry’s turnover is raised through the export of products and services. Of this figure, 49 per cent is made through exporting manufactured boats

• Small businesses account for half of the 35,000 people employed in the industry and also contribute 42 per cent of revenue
  

The leisure marine industry in Britain continues to go from strength-to-strength and remains a successful manufacturing sector and a vital element of the British tourism industry. The marketplace remains confident and it is great to see that the industry is employing over 35,000 people.

"The industry prides itself on the high quality of its products and services, and by maintaining its innovative edge has managed to succeed in a time when British manufacturing faces increasing global competition."

Boating Geography -

Around 12,429km of coastline. Being an island, coastal boating is fairly popular throughout the country with the biggest concentration on the south coast, particularly ‘The Solent’ between mainland and Isle of Wight.

Hampshire chandlers and Dorset chandlers are numerous, as are Devon and Cornwall chandlers. Sailing inland waterways is also popular, especially Thames, Norfolk Broads and northern lakes and lochs.

An estimated 250,000 ‘floating’ berths throughout the country, possibly as many as 50,000 of them true marina berths. Key boating season from early April through to end of October.

Total turnover of the UK leisure & small commercial marine industry is £2.8 billion

Value added contribution, the principal measure of national economic benefit, is £1.04 billion (37.6% of turnover)

• Export revenue is £918 million and represents 33.1% of total turnover

• There are around 35,000 employees across the industry (Full Time Equivalent)

• In the UK, there are around 4,300 Businesses in the UK leisure & small commercial
  marine market

• Whilst these figures are not directly comparable with previous years, the rate of revenue growth between 1997 and 2004 increased consistently by an average of7.8% per annum

• Revenue for the industry is concentrated in the south with 60% of sales being below a line drawn from Gloucester to Dover, ie the South West, the south coast, the Thames Valley, Sussex, Surrey and Kent.