MP: New enterprise zone could create 4,850 jobs in the East Riding

GRAHAM STUART MP has congratulated the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) after its proposal for a Humber Estuary Renewable Energy Super Cluster was approved as one of the 11 new enterprise zones in England.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, last week finalised the second wave of new enterprise zone locations in England in a bid to boost economic growth and create up to 30,000 new jobs by 2015. These enterprise zones will aim to attract hundreds of new start up firms by simplifying planning rules and providing super-fast broadband with businesses enjoying over £150 million tax breaks over the next 4 years.

GrahamStuart MP said: “I want to congratulate the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership for all their hard work in bringing this unique opportunity to the area. We need new businesses to create economic development in this country and this scheme could provide budding entrepreneurs with a great opportunity to kick start new companies. The go-ahead for a new enterprise zone is positive news for the East Riding. It has been estimated that 4,850 jobs could be created in the area by 2015. This needs to be celebrated. This is a chance to bring prosperity and growth to the region and I hope we can utilise this opportunity to its fullest potential.”

Proposals for the enterprise zones were drawn up by Local Enterprise Partnerships. The announcement brings the total of enterprise zones to 22 across the country and each one is expected to specialise in a different industry. The Humber LEP proposal concentrates on the Renewable Energy industries and at 375 hectares is the largest of those approved.

On its temporary website, the Humber LEP Manager, Richard Kendall said: “The fact that our Enterprise Zone has been approved at more than double the size originally suggested by the Government prospectus shows that there is faith in the level of our ambition and the capability we have to deliver on our plans. However, the Enterprise Zone is not the limit: it is only the beginning of what we hope to achieve. If we are successful there will be many more developments around the fringe, particularly in the supply chain and related industries, and the effect on our economy will be transformative.”

The Humber LEP has already started the job of recruiting its own staff team and are seeking individuals in the following areas:

• PA/secretarial/administrative
• PR/marketing
• Policy/research

Local website links:

Graham Stuart MP

Humber LEP

HU12 Comment: One of the concerns held by local people, is that the jobs created will be taken by people who already have the skills and will move into the area from other parts of the country - those already in work will look at opportunities for promotion and local unemployed people will not reap the benefits.

One of the perceptions of success - or failure - of the Enterprise Zone will be judged on the extent to which opportunities for training, re-training and employment can be targeted at the local population. We can not just expect these new opportunities to automatically ripple-down and benefit local people: Measures must be but in place to ensure that this happens!