Humber Freeport has showcased its commitment to skills development and innovation during a visit from Government and UK Freeport teams.
During a two-day visit to the Humber, delegates toured a pair of industry-leading facilities which have benefitted from the Freeport’s £25m seed capital fund.
First, the group visited Hull-based UK manufacturer Ideal Heating, which recently completed construction of its £19.2m UK Technology Centre (UKTC), a pioneering research and development facility which will accelerate the advancement of low carbon heating solutions like heat pumps.
On day two, delegates headed to industry training provider CATCH in Stallingborough, near Grimsby. More than £5m of seed funding has supported an expansion which will create a hub for industry collaboration, conferences, education partnerships and skills development.
Visiting the Humber were representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – the Government department responsible for freeports – alongside teams from other UK Freeports and Combined Authorities.
Delegates visited industry skills training provider CATCH in Stallingborough. near Grimsby.
Richard Beason, Humber Freeport’s Head of Investment, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Government and freeport colleagues to the Humber, to demonstrate the impact and progress which has already been made to support investments which drive growth and prosperity.
“These investments made by Ideal Heating and CATCH will support skills development and innovation in key industrial sectors in the Humber. Projects like these are vital for economic growth and for the Humber to continue to play its vital role in UK energy and broader UK plc.
“This visit was an opportunity to share our learnings and experiences with other freeport and Government teams, and gain valuable insights from the work they’re doing in their respective regions.”
Delegates visited the Humber from Solent Freeport, Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Freeport East and East Midlands Freeport.
They were joined by representatives from East Midlands Combined County Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Cardiff Capital Region, Scottish Government and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Ideal Heating’s Chief Operations Officer Jason Speedy welcomed delegates to the UK manufacturer’s headquarters site in Hull.
The visit to Ideal Heating’s site, on National Avenue in Hull, started with a place-based introduction from Future Humber’s Content and Design Executive Olly Burdett.
The introduction focused on the Humber’s distinct cultural and economic significance, exploring its rich industrial heritage and its critical contribution to the growth of the UK economy.
Jason Speedy, Ideal Heating’s Chief Operations Officer, then welcomed delegates to the company’s headquarters site, detailing Ideal’s near-120-year history as a UK leader in heating and hot water.
After an overview of Humber Freeport, provided by Mr Beason, the group toured Ideal Heating’s UKTC, which will soon house more than 100 specialists in roles ranging from R&D and product management to design engineering and software development.
The UKTC will serve as a testbed for product development, and includes climatic chambers where heat pumps are tested in a range of temperatures and conditions, anechoic chambers designed to monitor acoustic levels, and EMC chambers which test products for electromagnetic interference.
The UKTC received just over £2m of seed capital funding from Humber Freeport, having been identified as a development which is strategically significant to skills development and innovation across both the region and the UK.
On day two of the visit, delegates sat down at CATCH for a focused discussion on communications activity across UK Freeports and Investment Zones. The session explored the opportunities and challenges facing the UK’s Industrial Strategy Zones, and the investments which will help shape regional economies and stimulate skilled job creation, innovation and growth.
They then had the opportunity to see CATCH’s expanded facility, further strengthening the organisation’s role as a hub for industry engagement, skills development and knowledge sharing.
The expansion has created modern spaces including a lecture theatre, an event and breakout area, an immersive virtual/augmented reality suite, and a member lounge.
It will support the development and growth of emerging sectors such as hydrogen, carbon capture and the renewable energy technologies which will support investment and job creation across the Humber industrial cluster.
The Freeport’s £25m seed capital fund has helped stimulate more than double that amount of investment from private sector companies, acting as a catalyst for projects which will contribute significantly to the Humber’s economic future.
