Tall Ships Business Opportunities

Businesses and organisations are being urged to take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase their goods and services at England’s biggest free event in 2010.

Hartlepool is hosting The Tall Ships Races between 7-10 August when up to a million visitors are expected to descend on the town.

The larger Class A square-rigged ships will be berthed at PD Ports while the smaller vessels will be located within Hartlepool Marina. The massive Tall Ships Village will link the two sites and it is here that trade and exhibition space is up for grabs.

One local businessman to book his trade space already is Daniel Brobbel who will be selling a wide range of specially-sourced, quality Tall Ships children’s toys and gifts during the four-day spectacle. These include kites, balloons, aeroplanes and puppets, along with eco-friendly and scientific toys.

The toy/merchandise specialist from Hartlepool sees the event as a perfect chance to raise the profile of his company. He says: “I have had the Tall Ships bobbing around in my head for months now: it’s hard to think of anything else. The event offers me the opportunity to diversify my existing business and try out new products and technologies whilst proudly supporting the town in its finest hour.”

Lesley Strickland, Tall Ships Project Officer with Hartlepool Council, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses and organisations to raise their profile and promote their goods and services to an international audience. There will be a hive of activity within the Tall Ships Village and all visitors will have to pass through it en route to the two locations where the ships are berthed.

The site will be open from Friday 6 August – Tuesday 10 August between 10am and 11pm.

Anyone interested in booking trade/exhibition space should contact Laura Sheehan at laura.sheehan@hartlepool.gov.uk or telephone 01429 284278.

Hartlepool is expected to welcome between 60 and 100 Tall Ships after they have sailed from Kristiansand in Norway in the second and final race. Hartlepool Borough Council has teamed up with PD Ports and Hartlepool Marina to organise the event.

For general information about the event, log onto www.hartlepooltallships2010.com, telephone 01429 523636 or e-mail tallships@hartlepool.gov.uk.