A Mersey Maritime response to the Associated British Ports report – Blog by Simon Eardley, Head of Policy & Innovation at Mersey Maritime
Coastal communities need a ‘new deal’ – and a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities. That’s the Mersey Maritime view on a revealing new report from Associated British Ports (ABP): Turning the tide – understanding Britain’s coastal communities. Now, with a change of Prime Minister imminent, could be the time to make this longstanding argument once again?
New research commissioned by ABP paints a striking picture of modern coastal Britain: communities that are deeply proud of where they live, frustrated by decades of perceived neglect, yet optimistic about their future potential. Far from seeing themselves as communities in decline, many coastal residents believe they could once again become national centres of industry, trade, clean energy and innovation. The question is – how do we maximise this optimism, align it with our own priorities here in the Liverpool City Region / North West and make a compelling case at a national level for a new and renewed focus on unleashing the power of the blue economy around our coastal communities which are at the heart of our island nation.
For Mersey Maritime, the findings resonate strongly with our three strategic priorities of decarbonisation, innovation and people. They also reinforce a longstanding argument: if coastal communities are to fulfil their potential, they need a stronger voice at the heart of government through a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities. This was a theme we have consistently championed, with a long-term interest in what the future might hold for our coastal areas with dedicated and focused support at the heart of government.
At London International Shipping Week 2021 we backed the launch of a ‘Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto’ in conjunction with the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group which was a response to research suggesting almost half of our coastal communities’ young were being driven away from their hometowns through lack of jobs, with the likelihood of more to follow unless government came up with a plan.
The latest ABP research reveals a powerful sense among coastal residents that their communities often contribute more to the national economy than they receive in return. More people believe their area gives more to the country than it gets back, while many feel the economic benefits generated locally often flow elsewhere rather than remaining within communities themselves. This is often despite the compelling evidence of the economic impact of the maritime industry which, in the North West alone, is known to make a business turnover contribution in excess of £9 billion according to the latest research (link to LJMU).
There is also widespread frustration that Westminster does not understand coastal areas sufficiently. Almost eight in ten respondents believe government does not understand their community, while a similar proportion do not trust government to act in their area’s interests. Many feel coastal issues rarely feature in national debate.
For a nation whose prosperity has historically been built around its coastline, ports and maritime industries, this disconnect should concern policymakers and offers a compelling argument for change. Britain’s coastal communities remain central to trade, energy, logistics, manufacturing and tourism, yet many residents feel invisible within mainstream policymaking.
This is why the case for a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities has never been stronger. Coastal communities face a unique combination of opportunities and challenges that cut across multiple government departments. A dedicated ministerial role would provide leadership, coordination and accountability for ensuring that coastal voices are heard and investment delivers meaningful local benefit.
This call also aligns with a growing movement within local government to focus on the blue / maritime economy in the context of cleaner waters but also the economic potential this sector offers. Scores of councils have passed a ‘Motion for the Ocean’ in recent years which sets out dedicated ways to respond to climate and nature challenges in coastal communities and seeks the appointment of a more focused ministerial voice in government. Read more HERE.
Decarbonisation as a catalyst for coastal renewal – a key Mersey Maritime priority
One of the clearest messages from the research is the strength of support for renewable energy and the clean energy transition in coastal communities. Yet this is not just in the context of the obvious benefits this would offer to the environment, there is an increasing narrative around the commercial and business sense of such a focus.
Three quarters of coastal residents hold positive views towards renewable energy, with strong support across age groups, regions and political affiliations. More than seven in ten support investment in local clean energy infrastructure such as offshore wind and energy storage initiatives.
However, the research also provides an important lesson for those leading the energy transition. Coastal residents do not primarily support clean energy because of abstract environmental arguments. Instead, they support it because they believe it can create jobs, investment and economic opportunity. Nearly seven in ten respondents say local economic benefits matter more than net zero targets alone. This was a theme we explored recently in response to a Bibby Marine roundtable event at Global Offshore Wind 2026 in June where the clear message was that embracing opportunity in the offshore wind sector was increasingly driven from the point of view of the commercial sense it makes and will do so more so in the future. Insert link to Bibby blog.
This aligns directly with the maritime sector’s role in decarbonisation. Across the Mersey and wider UK coastline, ports are becoming gateways for offshore wind deployment, alternative fuels, hydrogen development, and clean energy supply chains. The transition to net zero represents one of the biggest industrial opportunities for coastal Britain in generations, even if there’s a political ‘cooling’ in some quarters to the principle of achieving net zero against specific target dates.
Some scepticism exists in the evidence from ABP’s report around who will benefit most from a focus on this area. Many believe large corporations and government will gain more from clean energy projects than local workers and businesses. Ensuring this scepticism is responded to in both communications and actual policy decisions will be critical going forward.
The challenge for policymakers and industry is therefore clear: decarbonisation must be visibly linked to local jobs, skills development and community prosperity. If people can see tangible benefits in their own towns and cities, support will continue to grow.
Innovation offers a route to future prosperity
Beneath concerns about declining high streets, public services and job opportunities – some of the traditional themes associated with the narrative around the decline of coastal communities – lies a surprisingly optimistic outlook.
Four in ten coastal residents believe their area has untapped economic potential, while six in ten think it is realistic that coastal communities could once again become economic powerhouses for manufacturing, shipping and clean energy. Eight in ten believe ports could play a bigger role in driving future jobs and growth.
This optimism matters and represents a major opportunity.
The maritime sector is undergoing profound technological change. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, smart logistics, advanced manufacturing, clean propulsion technologies and data-driven supply chains are transforming how ports and maritime businesses operate. This change is only going to accelerate further going forward.
Importantly, coastal communities appear ready to embrace this future. Nearly two-thirds describe their communities as “open for business” and willing to welcome new industries.
Innovation therefore presents a major opportunity not only to modernise the maritime sector, but also to create high-quality employment in places that have often experienced economic under-investment. Again, the economic impact analysis we know exists for the Liverpool City Region and the wider North West points to a simple fact: maritime jobs means productive jobs, well paid jobs, skilled jobs and jobs which make a significant economic contribution which helps to fund and support wider priorities.
The findings suggest that coastal communities do not want to be viewed solely through the lens of tourism or nostalgic ‘maritime history’ (important though that is for an understanding of where we’ve come from and the manner in which the sea is deeply embedded in our local and national psyche). They aspire to become centres of advanced industry, clean technology and economic growth. Government and industry should respond by ensuring that innovation funding, research investment and industrial strategy place coastal areas at their heart.
Read more about Mersey Maritime’s recent innovation project and its findings HERE.
Investing in people is the key
Perhaps the most important finding concerns young people.
While younger coastal residents are generally more optimistic than older generations about the future of their communities, they are also far more likely to believe that young people need to leave in order to succeed. The lack of job opportunities is perceived as the primary driver. Many respondents to the research findings believe opportunities for young people remain limited, despite recognising the potential of their local areas. Support for apprenticeships, training programmes, skills investment and opportunities for local businesses emerges consistently throughout the research as a priority for improving economic prospects.
Again, from a Mersey Maritime perspective, this speaks directly to our renewed commitment to the theme of people.
The future of coastal Britain depends on creating clear pathways into rewarding careers in maritime, logistics, engineering, clean energy and technology. Decarbonisation and innovation can only succeed if they are underpinned by investment in skills, workforce development and social mobility.
The danger is that without sufficient investment, coastal communities could continue to lose talented young people, weakening their long-term economic prospects. The opportunity, however, is to create globally competitive maritime clusters that attract and retain talent while supporting local prosperity.
This importance is recognised in Mersey Maritime’s own work to increase the profile of careers and skills as a key theme within our day-to-day work. We’ve recently joined the LCR Cornerstone employer network (read more HERE) and produce a comprehensive ‘careers and skills’ newsletter each month as well as developing plans for participation in upcoming jobs and careers showcase events in the region to promote the opportunities for young people our sector represents.
A moment for national leadership, renewal and change?
The ABP research highlights a paradox at the heart of coastal Britain. Residents see decline around them, but they also see enormous potential. They are proud of their communities, supportive of investment, enthusiastic about clean energy and optimistic about the possibilities offered by ports, manufacturing and innovation in their locality.
What they want is a fairer share of opportunity, stronger political attention and confidence that future growth will benefit local people.
For Mersey Maritime, the message is clear. Decarbonisation, innovation and people are not separate priorities; they are the foundations of our unique coastal economy and wider still around the whole of the United Kingdom. If government wishes to unlock the full potential of Britain’s coastline, it should match industrial ambition with political leadership.
We believe this could come through the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities. A champion within government focused on ensuring that coastal Britain is recognised not as a peripheral concern, but as a strategic national asset capable of driving the UK’s economic, environmental and social future.
Could this be one of the compelling ways that a new Prime Minister could really make a difference to our maritime and coastal economy? Time will tell!
Read the ABP report in detail HERE.
