The chair of the emerging Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has praised the work put into the Humber freeport bid.
James Newman OBE hopes to inherit the advantageous status for the region when he has welcomed the Humber-wide freeport bid submitted to government, believing it offers the best of both worlds in terms of international and in-land access.
“I came in at the end of the process so there was not much I could contribute but I think the private sector team, working with officers of the various councils, have done a great job, and I am very hopeful.
“We are one of the largest ports by tonnage in Europe, we stand a good chance. Government always likes competition, we have competition and it will be competitive.
“There will be one in-land port, and essentially ports operate from sea or from wide estuary positions. We are hopeful that the Goole element will provide not only a port bid, but also an inland bid, and we’re in a fairly unique position to do that. That could be the best of both worlds. We have got the MPs working for us, all are supportive from what I can tell, and securing this will lend itself to other projects too.”
As reported, Goole’s inclusion will require a slight deviation of government criteria, when it comes to freeport zonal shaping.
It comes as he now looks to fill the seats around the boardroom table to steer the strategy of the area ahead of the April 1 launch.
Humber LEP is disbanding after a failed attempt for pan-Humber devolution saw the South Bank authorities opt for a Greater Lincolnshire model when single status was enforced from Westminster.
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Mr Newman will be joined by Humber interim chair Stephen Parnaby OBE as deputy chair, with both Hull City and East Riding council leaders on board too. A further five or six positions are anticipated, with a mix from business, health and education eyed.
The initial call to action was made on Monday.
“There are a huge number of strong candidates and I have said that I encourage as many as possible and apologise in advance as inevitably there will be some disappointment,” Mr Newman said. “We will, however, have a number of sub-boards we need to form as we work towards what a combined authority looks like. There will be plenty of opportunity for people already working, and hopefully some new people too.”
Applications are sought ahead of a March 1 deadline, with a recruitment panel to review CVs and invite selected candidates to an informal discussion the following week.
A two-page cover letter identifying relevant knowledge, strategic experience and sphere of influence, together with CV and contact details should be sent to leprecruitment@hullcc.gov.uk . For more information visit .
Mr Newman added: “I’m really looking for people concentrated and focused on the two council areas that we can fully take forward and build up a new economic agenda for that part of the region, while also working pan-Humber.
“I’ve had no individual discussions with the current board, which I expect will be smaller - 10 or 11 maximum, with four places effectively taken. We are looking for another five or six new members to add to that.”
Of the make-up, he said: “It will be economy-orientated, not just business, but other sectors - voluntary, health and education. Health and well-being of the community is so important, it cannot just be about big business. They still have a very important part to play, but SMEs have a big part to play as well. We are trying to bring all that together so that everyone feels represented.”