The regional programme will run for up to 18 months and be delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s successful Fit For Offshore Renewables programme (F4OR).

F4OR supports the development of an increasingly competent, capable, and competitive UK offshore renewable energy supply chain. It is a unique programme which is focused on helping UK supply chain companies gain the tools needed to succeed in the offshore renewable energy sector.

The Crown Estate will provide ORE Catapult with £100 000 in funding to work with businesses in the Swansea Bay City Region, supporting their growth and entry into the floating offshore wind supply chain.

This financial contribution will be matched by the Swansea Bay City Deal, which is co-funded by the Welsh and UK governments, and launched a previous F4OR scheme in the region.

The funding for this scheme is in addition to The Crown Estate’s recently announced proposal to invest up to £400 million of capital into the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.

Some of this funding is already being deployed in Wales through its £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator, supporting organisations including Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges, Pembrokeshire College, and Marine Power Systems Ltd.

Rebecca Williams, Director, Devolved Nations at The Crown Estate, said: “Having the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the individuals and collaboration involved in The Crown Estate’s work across Wales in the Senedd was fantastic, and we’re grateful to the Members who supported our event. It’s inspiring to bring together so many valued partners who are helping us to serve communities and businesses across Wales, now and into the future.

“SMEs are a core driver of Wales’s economy. The F4OR scheme with ORE Catapult will help businesses in South Wales take advantage of the many opportunities presented by the development of a new floating offshore wind industry in the Celtic Sea. Through a thriving supply chain, we can create jobs, skills and play an important role in the clean energy transition.”

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, added: “Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver lasting economic and social value for Wales.??

“Working in partnership with the Crown Estate and others, we are determined to ensure Wales is in the best possible position to reap the rewards from the renewable energy revolution.

“This important programme will support local companies bidding for work in the floating offshore wind industry. This will help improve the awareness of Welsh firms about what is required to do business in the offshore wind sector.”

Andy Macdonald, Director – Development & Operations, ORE Catapult, commented: “South Wales has an enviable reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence, coupled with huge potential to support the growth and expansion of floating offshore wind. The F4OR supply chain programme provides an ideal route for companies with the right combination of key skills, expertise, and leadership to make the transition to the renewable energy sector.

“As we see the Celtic Sea becoming an increasingly important location for floating wind development, the opportunity for local innovative companies to tap into the huge economic potential is clear, and this support is specifically designed to help those companies turn potential into reality.”

For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.

Energy Global’s Summer 2025 issue

Dive into the latest renewable energy insights in the Summer issue of Energy Global, out now! This edition features a guest comment from Change Rebellion on the role real change management can play in the global energy sector before a regional report, which looks at energy trends and transformations across the Americas. Other key topics are also explored, including offshore support vessels, floating wind, weather analysis, and battery storage. Contributors include Ørsted, CRC Evans, Miros, Solcast, and more, so don’t miss out!

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/wind/11072025/the-crown-estate-to-fund-south-wales-f4or-programme/