Queenborough Harbour CIC is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that looks after the busy harbour. They offer annual and visitor moorings to both leisure and commercial vessels, with visitors coming from across the UK and abroad.
Since they took over control of the Harbour in 2012, their seven-strong team has increased the annual mooring occupancy to over double what it was – from 46% to 94%. Director John Finnis attributes this success to the efforts of the company's staff: “We employ a full-time highly qualified driven Manager who, together with her well trained, dedicated and motivated team provide excellent, cheerful customer service.” It should also be noted that, unusually for a male dominated business the majority of the staff are female.
In 2017 the Company won a £500k Development Grant from the Coastal Communities Fund. The Grant has enabled the Company to install 100 new moorings which increase capacity drastically, ensuring long term financial sustainability. The goal of the team is to achieve 100% occupancy and increase visitor numbers accordingly in the very near future.
The knock-on effect of this success is reflected in the increase in footfall for local pubs, restaurants and shops and an increase workload for the local marine based businesses.
John thinks that the success that Queenborough Harbour CIC is experiencing puts the team in good standing for the 2019 awards: “When we took over the Harbour it was losing money and there were only two members of staff. Now we are turning a profit and we employ seven people. We have doubled the number of moorings available having almost completely filled the original moorings we inherited. We are also well on our way to filling our brand new moorings. It is a very exciting time here at the Harbour.”
Queenborough Harbour CIC
South Street
Queenborough
ME11 5AF
07850 941 631
www.Queenborough-harbour.co.uk