Industrial And Transport

Flagship Blyth Sustainability Development Project

Blyth Tall Ship currently over-relies financially on grants and local marketing to deliver its volunteer supported and proven Maritime Heritage Skills training that supports employability and well-being in a community with significant depravation. Its service delivery and heritage assets are thus at risk. Blyth is receiving significant levelling up investment to bring visitors to the town via transport and capital projects including a new offshore skills training campus next to our workshops. Research, however, suggests 25% of visitor uplift will come from heritage engagement. The project thus aims to create the capacity for a sustainable and growing future by developing new income streams via shore based Maritime Heritage visitor and training initiatives, targeting a national tourism market. This involves developing under-utilised assets such as our archive and workshop space, developing commercial opportunities with strong existing heritage skills, growing our volunteer and community involvement and reviewing our governance and marketing strategies.