Scroll Top
About the spnl
The Shipping Professional Network in London (SPNL) was founded in 2007 as a meeting place for young shipping professionals in London.

Today the SPNL enjoys significant broad-based support from from companies and individuals alike. We are proud to have official backing from the UK Chamber of Shipping. Through regularly-organised events, young professionals from all aspects of the shipping industry are brought together to network, socialise and learn more about the industry we proudly form part of.

The SPNL was founded in November 2007, starting out in what could be described as “humble beginnings”, when close to 30 people attended the first networking drinks (mostly from recent graduate groups related to London Business School, RINA and CASS Business School). From there, the SPNL has gone from strength to strength.

SPNL’s inclusion in the Lloyd’s List London Maritime Map (all of London’s significant organisations which make up the London maritime cluster represented as a London tube map) is testimony of this. SPNL is proud to be recognised and feature alongside such illustrious organisations.

0
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
OUR Vision
  • To promote and enhance London as a maritime centre.
  • To be the ‘voice’ of young shipping professionals in London by engaging with the broader shipping community.

1 The Shipping Professional Network in London (SPNL) was founded in 2007 as a meeting place for young shipping professionals in London.

2 Started out in what could be described as “humble beginnings”, when close to 30 people attended the first networking drinks.

3 From there, the SPNL has gone from strength to strength. SPNL’s inclusion in the Lloyd’s List London Maritime Map is testimony of this.

OUR strategic objectives:

To provide a forum where young professionals who work within the shipping industry in London can meet to build their social and professional networks.

To provide a competence and expertise-developing educational forum for young professionals who work within the shipping industry in London.

To function as a recognised and respected representative of the shipping industry in London and work towards its advancement.

SPNL has been a supporter of the London International Shipping Week (LISW) since its inception, with the first SPNL LISW event coinciding with the launch of the first ever Next Generation Confidence Index.

The Index, which featured research conducted by SPNL in conjunction with Moore Stephens (now BDO LLP), canvassed the opinions of young professionals working primarily in the shipowning, shipbroking, ship management, chartering, advisory and associated industries in London. Respondents were asked for their views on the current state of the market and how they believed it would perform in the following twelve months. The Index formed part of the SPNL Future-London Report (Click here to view the report) – a report focused on making London more attractive to both talent and investment. 

The UK maritime sector directly employs over 200,000 people. 

The UK maritime sector also directly contributes nearly £40bn to the UK economy each year, with the City of London forming an essential part of the wider UK shipping industry

UK Minister for Shipping and Ports Stephen Hammond MP said:

“London International Shipping Week was a great opportunity for London and the whole of the UK to showcase the wealth of talent in the maritime sector and the range of maritime services we have to offer. I am keen to ensure that we nurture the skills and expertise of our young professionals and the extra 25% funding to support maritime training for sea cadets, demonstrates this commitment. I would like to thank SPNL for the support and encouragement their network provides for young professionals in the shipping industry.”

SPNL is proud to feature in the official London International Shipping Week (LISW) promotional video.

Our events offer SPNL members opportunities to hear experts and respected leaders in the UK maritime industry present their thoughts and opinions on topical issues in various fields in the industry. These fields range from ship valuation, maritime law, ports, piracy, ship classification, shipping finance, maritime economics, research and much more.

Although organising events is at the core of what we do, the SPNL is also involved in supporting tomorrow’s young shipping professionals by way of the SPNL Prize for the top Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) student and the SPNL Prize at Plymouth University for the best maritime-business related dissertation for the Bachelors degree programme. We also raise awareness within our industry by hosting educational port visits and tours of the City of London, at the same time supporting our host maritime centre of London (by the SPNL FutureLondon project) and selected charities.

SPNL MILESTONES

2007

SPNL founded by organising committee of 3 from Cass Business School, RINA and London Business School. No specific roles within team. Events at this stage followed a networking drinks only format.

2009

Organising committee evolves into current day “Board” set-up (specific roles). Founding board members of 5. First speaker event, followed by networking event. 

2011

SPNL incorporated with Companies House. First AGM held, with first elected Board with specific roles within team.

2012

First SPNL prize for top student (Institute of Chartered Shipbroker (ICS) London-based student). First Port Visit.

2013

Inaugural London International Shipping Week (LISW): Successful event hosted. SPNL logo rebranding. Inclusion in Lloyd’s List significant organisations of the London Cluster Map.

2014

SPNL Future London report released 2014 (initiative to ensure London’s continued nurturing, attraction and retaining of talent and investment). 

Privacy Preferences
When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in form of cookies. Here you can change your privacy preferences. Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we offer.