Christopher Willow offers a comprehensive knowledge of both the UK’s offshore wind supply chain and port industry, and has worked on a range of projects that aim to ensure both sectors’ development to meet future demand.

This year, he organized a country-wide ‘meet-the-buyer’ supply chain event for a leading turbine manufacturer that brought together nearly 200 companies operating in almost every aspect of a wind farm’s development. Such activity has allowed him to build relationships with all the country’s regional development bodies as well as many key contacts throughout the supply chain.

On a more strategic front, he has also been involved in projects that have sought to understand the supply chain needs of offshore wind turbine manufacturers and, in particular, the potential for large scale manufacturing clusters on the UK’s east coast. This work has included analyzing the factors that will influence what sectors are likely to see substantial growth, where developments will happen and how government intervention can promote the growth of the industry.

He has also led projects that have included economic analysis that explains the potential value and jobs that offshore wind can bring to regions and breaks down overall activity into sectors to help target future support.

Having worked in the central commercial department of the UK’s largest ports group, he has built up a detailed knowledge of the UK’s ports industry and its potential to support the offshore wind industry. Combining his port and offshore wind expertise, he has led a number of projects assessing UK ports in order to highlight key strengths and weaknesses and flag market opportunities.