Humber area gets enterprise group

A NEW local enterprise partnership has been formed in East Yorkshire with business leaders claiming it will drive economic growth in the region, potentially creating 20,000 jobs.

The Humber LEP – which will include members from Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils, was approved by the Government following months of political wrangling over its size.

Yorkshire now has four LEPs, which are at the heart of the Government’s plan to get economies growing following the abolition of regional development agencies like Yorkshire Forward.

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The proposal outlines a vision for the Humber area to become a national and international centre for renewable energy and aims to create upwards of 20,000 jobs.

Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce president Howard O’Neill said: “The support from business for this has been outstanding, and with the backing of all four Humber local authorities and the University of Hull I am sure we can make our LEP one of the best in the country.”

The LEP will put together a bid for one of the Government’s new Enterprise Zones, where companies receive business rate discounts and fast-track planning.

Humber LEP chairman John Clugston said: “The LEP has a big job ahead of it and we want to start making a difference as quickly as possible. We have also begun work on the Enterprise Zone bid and will be meeting some of the Ministers’ officials next week to discuss our case.”

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The Government said the LEP would focus on opportunities for growth around “ports and logistics, chemicals, international trade, strategic transport, infrastructure and innovation”.

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said: “This partnership has the ambition, ideas and business involvement to really exploit the potential for growth across the Humber area.”