Humber Freeport

Sector and market opportunity

Development of green energy and the support for the offshore wind industry are the core development opportunities for the Humber. The Humber also has significant strengths, capabilities, and assets across a broad spectrum of chemicals manufacturing and processing. Opportunities are also available in the supply of solutions and technologies to the growing green transport sector and decarbonisation, including of the UK rail network. The region has a strong advanced manufacturing base as well as an extensive logistics sector providing opportunities for the supply chain and distribution.

Growth prospects

Offshore wind energy in the UK is poised to grow rapidly over the next 10 years, with ambitions to deploy 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 as part of the ‘ten point plan’ for a green industrial revolution.

Companies can use the Humber as a springboard to exploit the global £4.3 trillion chemicals market opportunity.

Companies can also play a key role in achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero target for carbon emissions through the electrification of 13,000km of track across the UK rail network.

Location

Associated British Ports (ABP) Humber facilities provide a gateway for global trade, connecting businesses across the UK, Europe, and beyond. ABP has sites at Hull, Immingham, Grimsby, and Goole.

The Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) is a fully consented project and a bespoke port facility for the renewable energy sector, particularly offshore wind. Able will invest circa £450 million to develop 1,340m of new deep-water quays, lay down lands and manufacturing facilities.

The Goole tax site represents a unique opportunity to co-locate with the new Siemens rail factory currently under construction creating the opportunity to be part of that facility’s supply chain. The tax site is a large undeveloped site with excellent transport links. The site is ideally situated to access Hull, Goole, Scunthorpe as well as East Yorkshire (Doncaster, Wakefield).

At the heart of the UK energy transition, Saltend is the country’s premier location for world-class industrial businesses to prosper. Owned and operated by PX Group, Saltend is strategically positioned on the banks of the Humber. The 370-acre site is home to some of the world’s leading blue-chip manufacturing, chemicals and renewable energy businesses. Adjacent to Saltend is the Yorkshire Energy Park, a next generation energy and technology business park positioning the Humber at the forefront of the global transition to net zero.

Connectivity

Fly from 3 airports with local and international connections: Manchester International Airport, Humberside Airport, and Leeds Bradford Airport.

Access 40 million people and 75% of UK manufacturing sites within a 4-hour drive. A total of 320 million customers in mainland Europe can be reached within 24 hours, through a good network of road and rail connectivity

Access the UK’s busiest port complex with outstanding connections to mainland Europe, Northern Europe and the Baltics, as well as the whole of the British Isles.

Local talent and skills

There are more than 37,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, and 11,000+ graduates in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Currently 166,000+ working in STEM roles and 247,000+ in skilled trades.

National government support

As specially designed areas with beneficial economic regulations, Freeports can help you achieve sustained growth, and may be able to save you time and money through:

• Stamp Duty Land Tax relief
• enhanced capital allowances for investment in plant and machinery and structures and buildings
• 5 years of business rates relief
• employer National Insurance contributions relief
• deferrals and exemptions from duty
• supportive local planning environments with constructive public-private partnerships

Success stories - Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE)

In 2014, Spanish-owned SGRE announced it was opening a new 40,000 square metre, £350 million, factory in Hull (with the support of Associated British Ports). The plant was completed ahead of time and within budget in December 2016 and the first blades left the Alexandra Dock bound for Race Bank in January 2017. Since then, almost 2,000 blades have been manufactured at SGRE’s factory for projects throughout Europe.

Following this success Siemens Gamesa is expanding its successful blade factory in Hull by a further 41,600 square metres, more than doubling the size of the manufacturing facility. The expansion, representing an investment of £186 million, is scheduled for completion in 2023 and will directly employ a further 200 people.