November saw the return of The Waterline summit, the Humber’s largest decarbonisation event, where businesses large and small come together with academics, industry experts and young people to learn, discuss and tackle the climate challenge. The year’s event closed with an informative panel discussion about shaping a sustainable Humber, featuring panellists from Humber Energy Board and the Humber Freeport. Hosted by Richard Gwilliam, UK BECCS Programme Director for Drax, speakers included our own Jo Barnes, Managing Director of Sewell Estates and board member of Yorkshire Energy Park and Humber Freeport, Katie Hedges of CATCH, Chris Gilbert of Phillips 66, Simon Green of Humber Freeport and Harry Jones, Freeports Programme Director for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Discussion centred around the Humber Freeport, which has three main roles: setting the environment for new investment, accelerating innovation and allocating seed capital to companies aligned with the Freeport. Harry Jones, the UK’s Freeports Programme Director, was in the area to see the improvements that the Humber Freeport is already inspiring. He said visiting the Humber was an inspiration to his work across the country. “The path to net zero has to go through the Humber,” he said, adding that after working on decarbonisation papers in Whitehall, it was motivating to visit the Humber and see the work happening in practice. One of the flagship projects highlighted was a Sewell Group investment project, Yorkshire Energy Park, a next generation energy and technology business park under development to the East of Hull. An 86 hectare site and £200m investment, attracting investment from the energy, data, technology and manufacturing sectors, the scheme has the potential to create 4,480 jobs, along with apprenticeship and training opportunities for local people. The project is aiming to be sustainable in its build, as well as the industries involved, with land set aside for wildlife and local community groups. A lot of the conversation revolved around discussion of the skills shortage for many industries involved with decarbonisation, with all panellists keen to see further incentives for companies to take on apprentices and trainees. Jo Barnes spoke about how Sewell Group has pledged to triple the company’s intake of graduates, apprentices, trainees and work experience participants through their GATEWay scheme. She said that any decarbonisation work by business and industry needed to reach out to the region’s more deprived communities, ensuring any opportunities for work and upskilling were made available to these sections of society.

Holiday homes manufacturer Willerby and technology pioneer Sunamp have revealed how they worked together to achieve a green breakthrough for the industry. The two companies have collaborated to overcome a major barrier which has prevented holiday parks moving power supply from liquid petroleum gas to cleaner, greener electricity. The partnership has played a vital role in the development of the ground-breaking Willerby All-E specification, which enables Willerby models powered solely by electricity to be sited on most holiday parks across the UK. Development of the Willerby All-E system stems from teamwork between Willerby and Sunamp, a leader in thermal storage technology which this year received a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in innovation. Sunamp‘s space-saving thermal battery stores heat from lower carbon energy sources, such as solar panels or a smart grid, before releasing it for mains pressure hot water. Up to four times smaller than a regular hot water cylinder, Sunamp’s thermal batteries are typically installed in places where a traditional water tank would not fit, such as apartments and smaller homes. That means they are also ideal to be accommodated in holiday homes where space is at a premium. The Willerby All-E system has been developed by Willerby’s in-house technical and product development teams, with Sunamp’s technology playing a critical part in resolving a key challenge.

The government has today (20 November) launched England’s third Investment Zone in West Yorkshire focussed on Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds, which will help to create more than 2,500 new jobs across the region over the next five years, and could unlock £220 million in investment. The Chancellor has also confirmed the Investment Zones programme in England will be extended from five to 10 years, with the envelope of government funding and tax reliefs on offer now doubled to £160 million. West Yorkshire will host one of 12 Investment Zones across the UK. It’s based around the region’s universities in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield and the cluster of life sciences businesses thriving in the area. This includes the pioneering health tech company, Paxman Scalp Cooling, which supports patients to minimise hair loss during chemotherapy by manufacturing specialist hair caps. It is investing £5 million to bring their innovative health tech products to global markets and alongside it, the digital healthcare company Dedalus is investing £21 million to deliver digital and diagnostic tools for the NHS. As a result of the Investment Zone, revamped sites specialising in health tech and digital will open up around West Yorkshire, unlocking over 2,500 jobs and over £220 million of investment across the region over the next five years. This can be used flexibly between spending on interventions such as skills, research and development and local infrastructure, dependent on local need, and tax incentives such as 100% Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, an enhanced structures and buildings allowance at a rate of 10% per annum, an enhanced 100% first-year capital allowance, employer National Insurance Contributions relief, and 100% business rates relief. Alongside this, the window to claim Freeport tax reliefs in England will be extended from five to ten years until September 2031, providing greater certainty to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, and levelling up the economy. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “We know that devolution is working for West Yorkshire and this new investment zone is further recognition of that from the government. “Home to NHS England, our region’s digital and health tech businesses are driving forward innovation and transforming the lives of patients world-wide. “This investment is a massive vote of confidence in our top-tier universities and talented graduates and will help our mission to build a stronger, brighter region that works for all.” The West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone will benefit from a range of interventions which include skills training and business support to encourage more business investment. The plan will boost innovation in the area’s thriving healthcare sector and create a talent pipeline at the forefront of technological advances.

2 Sisters Food Group President and owner Ranjit Singh Boparan has joined senior leaders from the UK food industry this week in a historic pledge in support of the Coronation Food Project.

It encourages food manufacturers like 2 Sisters, which operates in Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Leeds and Sheffield, to join FareShare’s innovative “Alliance Manufacturing” programme to redistribute even more surplus food to charities.

Mr Boparan said: “This project is a testament to the King and signals a significant step-up in the way our sector can support those in need. We’re leveraging the power of a formidable alliance of manufacturers and retailers never seen before, and I am delighted to be able to play a big role in delivering meals for those who most need it.”

“It is astonishing to realise that in the UK in 2023 people are struggling to feed themselves at a level not seen before. This cannot be right. It’s our moral responsibility to come together and drive change at this difficult time. Nobody should be going to sleep on an empty stomach. This is just the start of a journey and I’ll be working with my partner customers, FareShare and the IGD to ensure we grow this initiative in the months ahead.”

The Project intends to provide even more food to support the 13 million people in the UK experiencing food insecurity by targeting all forms of waste in the food supply chain and building on the food industry’s existing initiatives to redistribute surplus food to charities.

The Alliance Manufacturing programme, a vital element of the Project, seeks to unlock more surplus food for redistribution by bringing project members together to share their surplus, underutilised and donated resources in all forms – food, packaging, labour hours, and factory/distribution capacity. The central idea is that each resource in isolation has a limited impact. Still, new food sources can be efficiently created by combining them across multiple businesses along all parts of the supply chain.

 By joining forces to promote best practices and teamwork across the industry, the goal of the Coronation Food Project is to reduce and redistribute surplus food waste, unlocking even greater social and environmental impact.

 George Wright, CEO of FareShare, said: “The response from the food industry leaders and their teams has been incredible. I shared the idea with them, and they’ve really taken it on, working together to make it a reality. The food is already getting to our charities – school clubs, community centres and a whole spectrum of support services – and with so many families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, it is making a difference already. We are all incredibly grateful to them. And it’s just the start. If everyone in the food industry joins the alliance, no matter how large or small, the combined force would be game-changing. If you’re reading this and you want to join, please email ceo@fareshare.org.uk.”

Plans to accelerate economic growth across North Yorkshire as part of a five-year Economic Growth Strategy have been endorsed by the county’s business leaders. The strategy will see North Yorkshire Council establishing a leading role in proposals to create a carbon-negative economy, maximise investment, support business growth, increase innovation and productivity and fire up the jobs and skills agenda. With delivery both by the council and by working with other agencies, the strategy aims to improve the quality of life for the county’s 615,000 residents and 32,000 businesses. York and North Yorkshire Federation of Small Businesses development manager Carolyn Frank said: “Businesses will welcome the joined-up approach recommended in the strategy, and the ambitions outlined, but will be focused on the ‘making it happen’ steps to follow. “There is widespread economic uncertainty and it is crucial that the council works in partnership with business owners of all sizes to make sure that North Yorkshire continues to be a great place to do business, with businesses and self-employed needs understood. “There are many exciting opportunities ahead through devolution and these will only be realised by the public and private sectors working in partnership. In a turbulent economy and time of rapid change, a strategy can only make a lasting difference if the implementation is action-oriented, agile and impact focused.” York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce President Sarah Czarnechi, added: “As we transition into a mayoral combined authority, we need to be bold and ambitious as a region. This will need both of our councils to harness North Yorkshire’s assets and forge new strengths to create a future-facing economy that works for everyone.” The strategy sets out measures to equip town centres so they can thrive through the 21st century by investment in transport, housing, digital and energy infrastructure, and ensure residents have the skills needed to meet these aspirations. Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said: “Adopting our economic growth strategy comes at one of the most exciting times in the county’s history – a new unitary authority has been created and devolution is approaching. “With a range of factors creating economic uncertainty and inequalities across the new council’s geography it is a necessity that we have a clear, focused set of priorities to drive our economic development ambition. “We have the opportunity to take the lead on tackling economic challenges and maximise investment from the private sector, government and funding agencies, as well as looking to improve the infrastructure of the county where we can. We are home to a vast array of businesses and want to see our specialisms grow – including renewable energy generation, agritech, food and drink, and, of course, our visitor economy. “A clear strategic framework on which to build a fit-for-purpose delivery model for the new council means we will be well placed to proactively drive future economic growth across the area and the North.” Cllr Bastiman said the strategy also outlines the key role that area constituency committees (ACCs) will play in its implementation. Engagement with local communities through these committees will help to develop local economic action plans to meet local challenges while contributing to the council’s overall aim to support communities to work together to improve their local area.