Able praises Humber as ‘Great Place to do Business’

Posted on the : 4th June 2015

A senior executive of the company developing the multi-million pound Marine Energy Park on the South Bank of the Humber has today described the area as ‘a great place to do business’ and has praised the widespread support for the project.

Able Group Development Director Neil Etherington, speaking at the Offshore Wind Connections 2015 conference, held in Bridlington, said they had been greatly impressed by the clear vision and strong leadership shown by bodies including North Lincolnshire Council and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership in supporting both the development of the Humber Ports Port (AHP) project and the drive to establish the Humber as a world-class centre for renewable industry technologies.

Said Mr Etherington “The commitment and unity of purpose shown across the area and across the political spectrum is, I believe, an example for others to follow. Since the start of the AHP project there has been a recognition that, as well generating thousands of direct jobs, it will provide a vital catalyst in attracting companies, large and small, which we need to create a successful renewable energy cluster on the Humber.

“AHP is a nationally significant infrastructure project and can make a significant contribution to the Government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ ambitions, providing the state of the art port facilities needed to maximise jobs and investment in what will be one of the most important and expanding business sectors in the years ahead.

“We believe that AHP, with 80 per cent of all European wind farms literally on the doorstep, provides the ‘big space in the right place’ needed by the international players in the offshore wind industry with quays and other facilities specifically designed to meet their needs, offering a much more efficient supply chain through co-location on the same site.

AHP offers 1,279m of new heavy duty deep water quays– designed following extensive liaison with the offshore wind industry (developers, manufacturers and installation vessel operators)—and over 900 acres of developable land. It is designed specifically for the marine renewables sector, providing a multi-user facility for the manufacture, storage, assembly and deployment of next generation offshore wind turbines and their associated supply chain(s).

“For our part we are also committed to ensuring that local people benefit from AHP which is why we are playing a leading role in establishing the Humber University Technical College in Scunthorpe which will open in September with a specific focus on renewable engineering.”

Able UK is one of the lead sponsors of today’s conference,…organised by the Team Humber Marine Alliance…which has attracted regional, national and international delegates, including wind farm developers, owners, industry trade bodies and companies along the length of the offshore wind supply chain.

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