Business leaders on both banks of the Humber have written to mayoral election candidates calling on them to commit to a unified approach to growing the area’s economy.
Polls will take place later this year to elect mayors in Hull and East Yorkshire, and in Greater Lincolnshire. It is hoped the new posts - which follow the election of metro mayors in many other parts of the North - will help kickstart economic growth in the area.
Companies to have signed the letter include ABP, Drax, Reckitt, Arcadis, Able and Smith-Nephew, as well as organisations including the Humber Energy Board and Hull University. They say threats to the region such as uncertainty over the Scunthorpe steel plant and the Humber not being mentioned in the Chancellor’s growth speech increase the need for mayoral candidates to commit to growth plans.
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They also highlight some of the area’s significant economic opportunities, including its leading position in the renewable energy sector and its strengths in advanced manufacturing.
The letter says: “The government has set a Growth Mission for the country – and it is one which we all believe matters more here, more than anywhere else in the country. We have a steel works on the brink of closing its blast furnaces – with thousands of jobs in the balance and a new era of an electric arc furnace in our grasp.
"We have the chance to create tens of thousands more jobs in the energy sector, supporting the economy of the wider North of England, delivering 28GW of offshore wind renewable energy and £15bn of private sector investment for Carbon Capture and Storage and hydrogen alone to decarbonise our industry. This will keep industry thriving and growing in the Humber and replace any job losses from the steel works.
“What unites us is our commitment to improving the lives of people in some of the country’s most deprived communities - individuals with remarkable potential and a drive to succeed. If successful, you will take on a significant and vital role - one that, unlike other Combined Authority areas, carries an added responsibility. You will need to champion what is best for our Estuary, a shared opportunity that demands true collaboration with a counterpart who may be familiar or entirely new to you, and whose identity you cannot predict in advance.
“We stand ready to support you and ask that you commit to backing the Humber Estuary, ensuring it gets the coordinated focus it needs. This, in turn, will give you more time and equivalent resources to invest in places like Beverley or Lincoln - equally important but distinct, requiring separate, tailored plans to deliver effectively as mayor.
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“The Energy Estuary needs a Humber Estuary Growth Zone, maximising the potential of the Freeport and aligning with other development sites from both sides of this Estuary. We need one front door when investors from around the world come knocking. We need the port and land infrastructure planned and delivered, so ambitious local businesses can join with inward investors and get on with the job at hand. We need to have the right skills when we need them, and innovation to support the growth here, everything from advanced manufacturing railway rolling stock, to offshore wind turbine installation and servicing.
“As the private sector, we must play our part. That’s why we support Invest Humber Estuary - to unite the next mayor, regardless of who wins, with both the private and public sectors. We urge you to do the same in your manifestos. Our region has lagged behind smaller, less economically significant areas simply because we haven’t had the right institutions to match our potential and build on our strong foundations. This has let our people down.”
The letter has been co-ordinated by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, whose chief executive Henri Murison said: “The Humber is at a crossroads. We have an incredible opportunity to drive forward the 海角视频’s energy transition, create thousands of well-paid jobs, and revitalise communities that have been left behind for too long. But to make that happen, we need leadership that truly understands and champions the Humber as a single, strategic economic powerhouse. Our message to candidates is clear: back the Humber, or risk missing out on a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”