The Humber’s growing renewable energy manufacturing and engineering sector is to come under scrutiny at a major regional event.
Manufacturing the Green Economy, organised by Team Humber Marine Alliance in collaboration with EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, will be held in Willerby on April 4.
Headline speakers include: Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber Local Economic Partnership, and senior managers from David Brown Gears/Windserve and Tata Steel, among others.
“This area is considered by government to be one of the most strategic locations for offshore wind and renewable energy and offers very real opportunities for local manufacturing companies,” said Lord Haskins.
“‘Greenness’ is something that the people of the Humber should be into, and the imminent arrival of Siemens and other companies like them really seem to have captured people’s imaginations.
“Marine and renewable energy related manufacturers are already here in a big way and they are fully able to rise to the challenges ahead.
“The Humber has always been important to the UK for energy with a third of the country’s coal and oil supplies transported through the region – now it’s offshore wind.”
Mark O’Reilly, director, Team Humber Marine Alliance, said: “The Humber has recently been awarded Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering status, one of five nationally. This partnership between central and local government and the LEP will ensure that businesses which want to invest in manufacturing for offshore wind receive the most comprehensive support possible.
“Team Humber Marine Alliance wants to help its member companies utilise all the support there is to make the renewables manufacturing revolution a reality on the banks of the Humber.
“Manufacturing is already at the heart of the region’s economy, and we must continue to focus on that as everything else derives from manufacturing, including the services and support industries.
“While inward investment into the Humber is vital, and the new enterprise zones are playing an important part in attracting major companies from outside the region to set up here, Humber companies are motivated, skilled and experienced enough to play a large part.
“Anyone with manufacturing and the best interests of the region to heart should come along and get involved.”
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Offshore WIND staff, March 26, 2012