The project to promote the Central South Coast as 'Britain's Premier Yachting Location' is funded and supported by the following:

The European Community's European Regional Development Fund
The South Coast Metropole Partnership
The Solent & Southern Harbour Masters Association
The Harbour Economic Development Forum
The British Marine Industries Federation
Hampshire County Council

The European Community's European Regional
Development Fund
This initiative is part financed by the EC's European Regional Development Fund under the KONVER Programme.

The KONVER Programme is designed to support areas that have suffered from industrial decline as a result of the downsizing in the defence industry since the end of the Cold War.

For  further information on this and other EC Initiatives please contact:
John Pinnell, Government Office for the South East, Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4GA

The South Coast Metropole Partnership
The South Coast Metropole is a local government partnership committed to representing the Central South Coast's economic interests both in the UK and overseas. Using a broad range of projects and initiatives, it works to maintain an environment that nurtures long-term sustainable growth for the region's businesses and economy.

It provides access to European projects and funding, supports company attendance at international trade events, encourages and facilitates regional tourism promotions and acts such as a force for lobbying central and European government to provide further support for the region.

1. Membership
Membership of the Association shall consist of Harbour Masters / Harbour Managers actively engaged in marine port operations limited to those ports and harbours lying between and including the ports of Portland & Weymouth in the west to Littlehampton Harbour in the East, the whole of the Isle of Wight & the Channel Islands. (NB This membership is confined to statutory undertakings and does not include Marina Managers).

2. Aims The Association is a non-political & non-profit making organisation dedicated to the safety and advancement of all waterborne traffic within the ports and harbours represented by the membership.

3. Objectives
To promote and maintain safety in ports and harbours.
To develop and foster good relations among all Harbour Masters.
To promote and increase co-operation of members' ports and harbours related to marine matters.
The establishment of relations with local authorities, organisations, associations and agencies on matters of mutual interest concerning Harbour Masters' duties and responsibilities.
To promote publicly through journals, magazines, websites or other media of port maritime affairs.
To identify the commercial, recreational and environmental interests within the Regions and immediate adjacent areas, in order to make recommendations in the interests of safety of all parties concerned.

The Harbour Development Forum is an association of the four local authorities in South East Hampshire - Gosport, Fareham, Havant and Portsmouth.

Its aim is to encourage economic prosperity by promoting the region for investment and by providing business support for local companies and business people. Its activities are designed to complement the work done by authorities and economic development officers in the districts, adding value and creating synergy through its regional approach.

The BMIF is the trade association for companies in the UK marine industry. With more than 1300 members it represents over 75% of the marine industry. A subsidiary of the BMIF - National Boat Shows Ltd, organises a number of major marine exhibitions including the Southampton International Boat Show and the London International Boat Show.

Its aim is to encourage economic prosperity by promoting the region for investment and by providing business support for local companies and business people. Its activities are designed to complement the work done by authorities and economic development officers in the districts, adding value and creating synergy through its regional approach.

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Hampshire is now one of Europe's leading business locations. Its access to world markets and a superb communications infrastructure, the largest high technology labour market in the UK and its education and research facilities are the main reasons Hampshire is fast establishing itself as a European centre of business and research excellence. It offers existing businesses and new companies an unparalleled variety of industrial and commercial sites, as large areas of prime land are developed for potential investors.

The company we keep
Many major UK businesses and over 300 foreign-owned organisations consider themselves in good company in Hampshire. Businesses such as IBM, British Aerospace and Motorola, depend for their success, on being in close proximity to the right mix of skills, facilities, suppliers and partners - and they require an infrastructure to support this mix. Hampshire can offer firms this unique blend - as well as providing superb quality of life in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Websites:

http://www.hants.gov.uk/business
http://www.hep.uk.com