A private sector-led partnership looks set to support local authorities on the Humber to maximise the 鈥済reat potential鈥.
Michael Gove鈥檚 Levelling Up White Paper appears to underline the importance of the Energy Estuary as an economic entity, ring-fencing key elements of the disbanded Humber Local Enterprise Partnership鈥檚 position.
It will be chaired by consumer healthcare brand Reckitt's chief executive Laxman Narasimhan, with the name Opportunity Humber. It was a business founded by a man who crossed the Humber to start up in Hull from Lincolnshire, and comes after freeport success and major strides have been made with the Net Zero agenda.
Latest: Opportunity Humber - Reaction from across the Energy Estuary
Revealed on page 236 of the 332-page document presented by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, the report reads: 鈥淭he Humber economy has great potential.
"Recent government announcements and initiatives such as the Humber Freeport and Net Zero, coupled with private sector investment, provide the opportunity and catalyst for the region to realise its potential. The Humber is playing a key role in energy. Through its natural geography and emerging cluster, the Humber will help to ensure that offshore wind, industrial decarbonisation, carbon capture, and other technologies will sustain key industries and create high quality jobs at scale for years to come.
鈥淭o achieve the full economic potential of the estuary, major businesses with a stake in the area and the four local authorities have come together and recognised the need to strengthen leadership on pan-Humber economic priorities.
鈥淥pportunity Humber will be a private sector led board, chaired by Laxman Narasimhan, chief executive officer of Reckitt, which will sit alongside future local devolution arrangements. It will work with the local authorities to provide a single voice for the Humber nationally, globally and into government, and will provide strategic leadership to drive the development and delivery of agreed pan-Humber economic priorities, including the Humber Net Zero cluster.
"The Humber is the 海角视频鈥檚 largest trading estuary and has the capacity to make significant inroads into decarbonisation and the application of new and related technologies. The 海角视频 Government welcomes this leadership provided by the private sector and local authorities and commits to a new cross-government approach to engaging on pan-Humber priorities through a ministerial-led single conversation as part of the agreed final proposals.鈥
As reported, the Humber LEP was disbanded when government insisted on single membership. North and North East Lincolnshire Council elected to join Greater Lincolnshire, leaving Hull and East Riding - now set to emerge as a combined authority with a county deal, having been encouraged to do so.
Mr Narasimhan, who recently oversaw the return of the Reckitt name to RB, has also been appointed to the Levelling Up Advisory Council. It is described as bringing 鈥渁 diverse, independent and expert group of voices into the policymaking process鈥.
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Michael Gove in Grimsby ahead of Levelling Up White Paper publication
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove took in a tour of North East Lincolnshire, home to Grimsby - the pilot town deal location - ahead of the Levelling Up white paper publication.
He took in a couple of businesses, heard about the renovation of St James House from managing director of support organisation E-Factor Mark Webb and saw the wider regeneration zone of Victoria Street and the in-receivership Freshney Place, before visiting the port.
Mr Gove then went on to Cleethorpes where coastal regeneration was discussed.
Grimsby MP Lia Nici, elected in 2019 as the first Conservative in virtually three quarters of a century, said: 鈥淚t is no coincidence that Grimsby was chosen by the Levelling Up Secretary to launch the White Paper in his visit on Monday.
鈥淚 welcome its contents as this is the first time in generations that a government has focused on areas like Grimsby. This is about making Grimsby a place not just to grow up, but to gain worthwhile employment and to live a fulfilling life.鈥
Cleethorpes鈥 Martin Vickers, who had been in position for the 12 years of a Conservative rosette on the Downing Street mantlepiece, said: 鈥淯nder this Government, North East Lincolnshire is going from strength to strength. We are benefiting from numerous funds including the Local Growth Fund, Coastal Communities Fund, and Future High Streets Fund. We were also the first area to benefit from a Town Deal.
鈥淭he Humber Freeport will also be a pivotal element of the levelling-up agenda. When it opens, the freeport will drive new investment into the area, create jobs and create additional funding to help the local area regenerate.
鈥淭he Government鈥檚 levelling up agenda is a serious plan to ensure that areas like Grimsby and Cleethorpes are never again left behind but actually at the forefront of the country鈥檚 successful future.鈥
Back in Westminster Mr Gove referenced Grimsby, underlining the importance of links between education and the burgeoning offshore wind industry.
