British Marine Inland Conference celebrates record attendance and delivers a day of insights, networking and engaging discussion for Britain’s inland waterways sector.
Worcestershire County Cricket Club once again played host to a dynamic and highly successful British Marine Inland Conference on 13 November. Sponsored by leading industry names – Haven Knox-Johnston, Barrus, Hoseasons, ProMarine Finance, Waterways Holidays, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems and Aqueduct Marina – the event brought together a mix of industry leaders, decision-makers and stakeholders, energising the inland marine sector with a full day of insights, networking and engaging discussions.
With over 100 attendees representing 57 companies, this year’s conference highlighted the growing momentum within the inland boating industry. The event, themed “Energising Britain’s Waterways”, featured a packed agenda of keynote speeches, expert presentations and tailored breakout sessions designed to meet the needs of businesses navigating the evolving landscape of Britain’s inland waterways.
The day commenced with British Marine Midland’s AGM and also a joint British Marine Inland Boating and Inland Boatbuilding AGM, which saw the dissolution of both associations to form the new British Marine Inland Association. Joe Tromans, Commercial Director of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, then provided the opening address setting the stage for a day of presentations and discussions, as well as giving attendees an insight into the club.
Keynote speakers included Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, alongside Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & Rivers Trust and Andrew Pearce, Deputy Director Asset Management Systems at the Environment Agency. They shared updates on industry developments, including the latest regulatory changes, decarbonisation initiatives and opportunities for growth across the inland boating sector.
The morning’s Navigation Authorities Update featured engaging presentations from Gareth Stephens (Canal & Rivers Trust) and Julian Kennard (Environment Agency), providing valuable insights into the future of waterway management. While Nigel Stevens, from Shire Cruisers, delivered a powerful session entitled ‘Jeopardy: for canals – or for boating businesses’, which focused on the CRT’s funding shortfall and the importance to the industry of CRT being able to fill the funding gap. Nigel explored the CRT’s use of jeopardy to gain more donations, but he also pointed out the delicate balance required, noting that such techniques could risk unintended negative impacts on the industry.
“This has been a really great event. There have been plenty of informative presentations and lots of conversations during the breakout sessions, which have provided valuable opportunities to connect with our customers and network with industry peers,” commented Gareth from the Canal & Rivers Trust.
Ed Tuite, Head of Technical at British Marine and Jon White, General Manager of The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) concluded the morning sessions covering a whole host of topics including, the new and revised ISO standards being developed, updates on decarbonisation across the industry and guidance on Li batteries.
Following lunch, the afternoon breakout sessions, held at the picturesque Beard Terrace and Graeme Hick Pavilion, offered delegates a chance to dive deeper into topics including digitising the hire boat experience, major craft conversion and other regulatory clarifications, as well as the updates on the redrafted TYHA Code of Practice and the latest on VAT implications for the inland sector. Industry experts Ross Wombwell (British Marine Consultant), Ed Tuite (British Marine), and Jon White (TYHA) and Jim Suswain (PKF Francis Clark) led the sessions, delivering actionable advice and sparking lively discussions among participants.
After which, James Ward, from Marine Resources, lead a session focused on employee engagement, before Nigel Richards from Waterways Holidays look a closer look at tourism trends and plans for 2025.
The formal conference programme concluded with closing remarks from Robert Parton, President of British Marine, who emphasised the importance of collaboration and innovation within the industry. Delegates then enjoyed a networking drinks reception, providing a relaxed setting to continue discussions and foster new business relationships. The evening festivities featured a three-course Gala Dinner, followed by the return of the highly anticipated post-conference quiz, offering a fun and informal end to a productive day.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, said: “The British Marine Inland Conference remains a crucial platform for the exchange of ideas, strategic discussions and business development. The strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement at this year’s event underscore the industry’s commitment to advancing Britain’s waterways and enhancing the visitor experience.”
