LOCAL businesses hoping to tap into the expected employment generated by the Atlantic Array will face stiff competition, business leaders have warned.

Johnny Gowdy, spokesman for RegenSW and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), said: "It's going to be very competitive, with North Devon competing with South Wales for the business."

But he confirmed that the prospects in the initial stages of investigation and surveying were good for the South West.

"I can see this work hopefully coming into North Devon, because it is closest to the offshore wind farm site — and it could also tap in to the expertise available right across the South West," he said.

"When it comes to construction, they are going to need land covering the size of several football pitches — as you can see from Mosten Port in North Wales,where they have successfully constructed three wind farms offshore.

"This means that as much of the construction as possible is done on-shore and the expensive off-shore construction is kept to a minimum."

He also echoed RWE npower renewables' view that the construction work would be a "major opportunity" for the shipbuilders at Appledore.

"We now need to sit down with the developers and work out a plan of their requirements and then match that up with what we have got in terms of infrastructure and in terms of making investment," he said.

In the meantime RegenSW, the SWRDA and the Crown Estate are organising a supply-chain event.

Local firms including J&S Marine and Babcock have already been invited to the event in Bristol in March, but organisers would like to hear from any companies which could play a part in the project.

Mr Gowdy said: "This could bring new companies to North Devon, who will be looking for people to work locally for them.

"But we would also like to hear from firms in the region who already have experience in any aspect of the marine industries — from boat transfers to marine surveying — or who are considering diversifying into the offshore wind industry."

Anyone interested in attending the supply chain event in Bristol can find out more by visiting the information page on the Regen South West website.