A broad welcome for a proposed new pan-Humber private sector-led group to help drive the regional economy to its full potential has been received.
Opportunity Humber, to be led by Reckitt chief executive Laxman Narasimhan, will work alongside the Humber Leadership Board - made up of council chiefs and LEP chairs - to focus on strategic growth for a globally significant region.
It was made public in the depths of the Levelling Up White Paper, released on Wednesday - less than a year after the Humber LEP was dissolved.
Read more: Hull and East Riding go-ahead to negotiate county deal for Levelling Up devolution
The Energy Estuary and hinterland, once a standalone Humberside county authority, has been identified as having the potential to grow significantly, attracting further global investment - particularly in green energy related industries - as it aims to lead on the transition from pollution hot spot to decarbonisation pioneer.
Humber LEP was lost when government insisted on single membership. of such bodies. North and North East Lincolnshire Council elected to join Greater Lincolnshire, leaving Hull and East Riding to form HEY.
David Hooper, external affairs director for the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are pleased that Michael Gove visited the area this week and has flagged up a new Opportunity Humber proposal in his White Paper, especially as it’s pan-Humber, which we think is a good thing. It’s encouraging to see central Government recognising the Energy Estuary as an important functional economic unit which is something the Chamber has championed for many years and a position supported by many key businesses and stakeholders in the region.
“The recent announcements on the freeport status and net zero agenda will all help to strengthen the local economy, create good jobs and help the Humber realise its full potential in the coming years.”
Firmly behind the freeport success has been Simon Bird, ABP's regional director. He said: "The concept of a new voice for business in the Humber that has the ear of Government has huge potential. ABP is certainly keen to be involved, just as we have been with the freeport and we look forward to working with partners across the region to help ensure this new partnership has the right terms of reference and involvement across public and private sectors to make it a success."
According to the North Bank authorities - themselves now negotiating a combined county deal for East Yorkshire - Opportunity Humber would work alongside existing and any new structures and governance introduced in the region. It would not supplant or replace any, but “provide a space for the private sector to play a greater role in supporting the growth of the region”.
Cllr Jonathan Owen, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “As local authorities, it is important to support the potential of Opportunity Humber and to see the private sector take a stronger role in regional growth and economic development.
“There are plenty of exciting possible areas of focus for Opportunity Humber to make a lasting impact in our region and we would very much look forward to working as a collective with the group. Hull and East Riding has the potential to grow significantly, attracting significant investment in green energy related industries – a priority issue for us as a local authority.”
Cllr Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, added: “We are pleased that government is supporting Opportunity Humber to develop a strong business-inspired and led initiative across the Humber, alongside the voice of the local authorities. This will mean our region can benefit from the combined support of some of our largest international businesses so we can capitalise on their expertise, have a louder collective voice both nationally and internationally, and maximise on the potential of our region.
“Recognising that it’s our businesses that create jobs, invest in our region, grow our economy and drive up the prosperity of our residents, we look forward to working with the group to deliver for our region.”
Reckitt, having recently returned to its Hull-founded roots with a name change from RB, was founded by a Lincolnshire man who crossed the Humber to start what is now a global consumer healthcare business with a portfolio of brands from Dettol to Durex.
It has been a hero business of the pandemic and has invested massively in the city recently.
Mr Gove had visited Grimsby - the original pilot town deal - ahead of the launch as part of a closed tour.
Leader of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Philip Jackson, outlined development sites, including St James Square, Victoria Street and wider brownfield housing regeneration at Western and Matthew Humberstone schools. He said the Secretary of State indicated a Greater Lincolnshire county deal may emerge in time.
Of this, he said it would run "hand-in-hand with any plans to further cement North East Lincolnshire’s economic affiliation to the Humber".
On Opportunity Humber, Cllr Jackson said: “As an authority we are determined to ensure we do not lose focus of the work we must continue to do with our partners across the Humber. Our unique position on the estuary is one that brings with it tremendous scope for jobs and skills growth.
“We have true strength here in terms of the established fish processing and seafood sector running alongside the continued emergence of green energy and renewables. Growth and future prosperity are about confirming relationships and establishing links that are mutually beneficial both within county boundaries and across borders.”
Energy and decarbonisation are clear strands, with Equinor the anchor project behind Zero Carbon Humber, both with its H2H Saltend hydrogen production plans, joint ventures for both carbon capture and hydrogen power stations and storage in the area.
Dan Sadler, vice president of UK low carbon solutions with the Norwegian giant, said: “We welcome the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper and in particular the recognition of the role that carbon capture and other low carbon initiatives have in decarbonising industrial clusters such as the Humber. We believe that the Zero Carbon Humber proposals, anchored by Equinor’s H2H Saltend project, can play a vital role in levelling up through delivering tens of thousands of high quality jobs, wide ranging supply chain opportunities and future proofing vital local industries on the road to net zero.
“We have been pleased to play a role from the early stages of Opportunity Humber, which can help to represent the collective voice of Humber business and ensure it gets the recognition it deserves at a national level.”
David Talbot, chief executive of Catch, said he was “supportive of any initiative that brings together the Humber industry across both banks and delivers on the Levelling Up agenda”.
The regional process and renewables organisation, headquartered at Stallingborough, has a 20-strong board made up of industry, local authorities and academia, with a membership of 50 key organisations from across the region. It works with 240 supply chain companies “leading to an enviable position of understanding the industrial landscape”. It is also a partner in the delivery of the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan, the roadmap to net zero industrial emissions.
Mr Talbot said: “Opportunity Humber should be a positive step forward for the region and the importance of stronger links for the Humber into Government at ministerial level to support delivery of the emerging cluster plan, including the key decarbonisation projects and an effective skills strategy, could be critical.”
International investment has been on the agenda for place marketing agency Marketing Humber, with digital tools developed to aid the conversation.
Bill Walker, chair, said: “Marketing Humber exists to promote to the wider world the very best this region has to offer as a nationally powerful and globally relevant economy. Business has a massive role in delivering the huge economic opportunity this region has, especially in its core, globally important strengths in ports-related business, industrial decarbonisation and Net Zero.
“It is vital that the Humber has a powerful voice to match its enormous potential and we would always want to work alongside whatever statutory, inclusive and collaborative bodies that are agreed and in place to help bring that about.”
North Lincolnshire Council has yet to respond to a request for comment.
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