Humber LEP Annual Review - it's all Good News!

Almost 6,000 new jobs have now been created through the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s joint investment schemes with partner organisations – with almost 3,000 new jobs to follow.
These figures have been released through the Humber LEP’s annual review, which was unveiled today at its Annual Business Summit at DoubleTree by Hilton Forest Pines Hotel in Broughton, Scunthorpe.
A total of 5,811 new direct jobs have been created, with 2,879 new direct jobs to come in the near future. When combined with safeguarded jobs and construction jobs, 10,966 jobs have been supported through the Humber LEP’s investment partnerships to date.

The LEP has so far secured over £328m of UK Government funding to enable its partners to deliver projects. £145m of this has already been invested on the ground, leveraging £387m to make a total investment to date of £532m in the Humber – with more follow-on investment to come.
Other key figures unveiled in the Annual Review include:
- 24,396 learners supported through our collaborative skills partnerships
- 7,498 properties with reduced flood risk thanks to support for flood risk alleviation schemes
- 13,019 businesses supported by the Growth Hub
- 3,305 jobs created through our support to businesses.

Meanwhile, the LEP’s Growth Deal programme has supported infrastructure projects across the Humber, led by local authorities and businesses. £21m has been invested on the ground over the course of the 2018/19 financial year.
Building on the successful Delivering Housing Growth scheme in Hull, further sites have been identified and brought forward for new build housing and refurbishment of old housing stock to further Hull’s strategy of housing-led renewal.

Additional regeneration is being facilitated in the city with demolition and other enabling works taking place in Albion Square to unlock potential for a mixed use regeneration development. Work has also started on constructing a pedestrian footbridge over the A63, connecting the city centre with the Marina and Fruit Market areas, and providing safe access for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Meanwhile in the East Riding, a number of schemes to alleviate are now substantially complete. These include at Anlaby and East Ella, where a large culvert to redirect storm water has been installed, Cottingham and Orchard Park where an overflow lagoon has been created, and Hull and Holderness where the height of existing tidal defences has been increased to guard against tidal surges.

South of the Humber, investment to improve transport infrastructure has continued with a £7.2m Local Growth Fund investment to upgrade the Humber’s rail infrastructure almost complete. This will enable larger containers to be transported
from the Port of Immingham.

Work has also started to undertake vital carriageway works around the A180 and A160. Across two separate schemes approximately £4.6m Local Growth Fund has been committed to improve the condition and quality of the highway asset and
ensure it is a suitable standard to accommodate existing and future traffic developments within the area.

Meanwhile, a three-year, £6m investment from the European Regional Development Fund, designed to enable SMEs in the region to grow their businesses, has enabled an expansion of the LEP’s Business Growth Hub service. Launched in November 2018, the Growth Hub’s new #GrowMySME Programme is the Growth Hub’s dedicated new package of high-growth SME support, consisting of the three complementary strands: the ICT for Growth Scheme, the Finance for
Growth Scheme and the Business Growth Scheme. We have also made partnerships with business and other organisations our priority the past year. This includes developing the industrial strategy with the support of many different voices from across the Humber and beyond, understanding businesses’ views on Brexit issues and opportunities, and engaging with employers through skills projects such as the Talent Forum and the Careers Hub.

Kishor Tailor, Chief Executive of the Humber LEP, said: “Through continued collaboration and close partnerships, the Humber LEP’s investment programme continues to go from strength to strength. “The diverse projects we support – from schemes tackling youth unemployment to projects improving rail infrastructure and programmes engaged in growing SMEs –
are only as successful as they are through the strong relationships we build and the work we carry out together to achieve our aim of a prosperous and thriving region.

“The LEP has punched above its weight in securing investment for the region, but it is local authorities, businesses and education providers which are delivering on the ground and it is excellent to see more and more of these projects paying off.
“However, the LEP’s work is not just about investment. As we develop our industrial strategy, our role in bringing partners together and providing an interface with Government will be essential. Together we can ensure that the strategic importance
of the Humber is recognised and we are well-positioned for further success.”