Lower Normandy’s nautical businesses have genuine strengths, but they could do with getting to know each other better. The DRIRE (Regional Directorate for Industry, Research and Environment) and the Regional Council are looking to boost networking among nautical business players and to establish, together, an action plan to reinforce this extremely encouraging sector.

Cherbourg: a « G9 » at the helm

Cherbourg: a « G9 » at the helm
Launched early 2007 by the Cherbourg-Cotentin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the creation of the Cotentin nautical industry network has led to a very precise action plan, devised by professionals themselves. “The legitimacy of our approach relies on that very principle: professionals must, themselves, be at the heart of the initiative. The CCI’s role is to bring them together,” emphasises Madelon Henry, “Industry Sector” Project Manager at the CCI. Cotentin-based industrialists got involved in the project early on, and have already set up a work group comprising 9 established nautical businesses. Among them: Facnor, JMV Industries, Allures Yachting, CMN or MSI… Eighteen months later, a genuine strategy has emerged, blending sales prospection, site development, collective action, communication and marketing. Their ambition: “to create 500 jobs within 5 years.”

JMV Industries or Allures Yachting in Cherbourg, Karver in Honfleur, Facnor in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Garcia in Condé-sur-Noireau, Yachts, Industries, V1D2, ACM in Caen… So many reasons to be proud of the region’s nautical industry. Fine trees obscuring a forest of small yards, research consultancies or manufacturers… but can we really consider them as forming a network since they communicate so little? “No,” considers Patrice Hubert, in charge of the Regional Council’s Economic Change department. “In this growing sector, the region’s businesses have great potential; however, they are still too isolated.”

Taking example from the Cotentin

Whilst Laurent Beauvais is insisting on the reinforcement of auspicious industry sectors, the Regional Council and the DRIRE are striving to develop networks among players in the nautical field. “On a local or district level, interesting initiatives are being launched to bring professionals together and to attract others. We now need a regional bond,” considers Yves Angella from the DRIRE. Both Calvados and Manche already have programmes on a county level. Caen la Mer’s Norlanda programme provides a structured offer and attracts projects within the nautical incubator and enterprise zone, coordinated by Synergia. In Cherbourg, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has gone to great lengths to reunite Cotentin-based industrialists (read boxed article). By forming a work group and implementing an ambitious action plan in less than two years, they hope to attract new businesses and to reinforce the existing fabric. “Within the coming five years, our aim is to attract 3 new yards and 10 associated businesses throughout the territory, in the field of the construction and maintenance of 12 to 30 metre boats,” explains Madelon Henry, “Industry sector” project manager for the Cherbourg-Cotentin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Towards a regional network

In the wake of the Cherbourg experience, the Regional Council and the DRIRE are determined to generate networking on a regional scale. Initially, the aim is to federate professionals, “so that they can then, themselves, decide on an action plan to reinforce the competitiveness and the attractiveness of Lower Normandy’s businesses.” For example, in the all too strategic field of materials, collective action to bring yards, consultancies and research centres closer together would surely be profitable to all. “Exchange is essential. A business cannot be successful, alone, in the middle of the ocean,” portrays Stéphane Constance, Managing Director of Allure Yachting in Cherbourg.
So what is the best strategy? “It’s up to businesses to decide, under our impetus,” adds Patrice Hubert. And the Region-DRIRE approach is already proving fruitful. A professional regional association is already under gestation. Whereas in Granville, MIRIADE is organising a nautical B to B day on the 23rd of September for prime manufacturers and sub-contractors, with support from both Sotraban and Synergia.

Patrice Hubert
Manager of the Regional Council’s Economic Change department
Tel: 02 31 06 98 65

Yves Angella
Project Manager at the DRIRE
Tel: 02 31 46 50 20

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