Green Port Growth Programme. Supporting business development and investment in the renewables sector

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1 Green Port Growth Programme Supporting business development and investment in the renewables sector

2 Green Port Hull The Green Port Hull vision is to establish Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire as a world-class centre for renewable energy, creating wealth and employment for the region. Artists Impression of the Siemens facility With its prime location close to the offshore wind opportunities in the North Sea, established infrastructure, knowledge, expertise and the capability to handle a diverse energy mix, the region is capitalising on its strengths. These attributes are the reason that Siemens chose Hull as the location to build its offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing, assembly and servicing facilities that will form the centrepiece of Green Port Hull. The Siemens investment is just the catalyst for the Green Port Hull vision. As well as offshore wind there are major opportunities in bio fuels, carbon capture and storage, waste to energy, solar, wave and tidal power generation. Planned investment: Siemens/ABP - 310m (joint investment) offshore wind turbine facility Energy Works - 150m green power plant Biomass Handling Facility at Port of Hull - 150m investment enabling transport of sustainable biomass to Drax Power Plant Reality Energy Centre - a 130m 49MW biomass fired power plant Ron Dearing University Technical College - specialising in digital technology and mechatronics The renewable energy sector will be the single biggest influence on the local economy for generations, creating thousands of new jobs along with a wealth of opportunity for local people and business. 2

3 Introducing the Green Port Growth Programme To ensure this once in a lifetime opportunity becomes a reality, Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, along with partner organisations, devised the Green Port Growth Programme. With an investment of 25.7m, the programme, which is supported by the Government s Regional Growth Fund, is designed to capitalise on the renewable energy opportunities. It aims to develop indigenous business growth within the sector and secure long-term economic growth and employment for the region. The growth strands The Green Port Growth Programme delivers a programme of activity through six business strands designed to develop all aspects of the renewables industry. Employment and Skills Development Site Assembly Inward Investment Business Support & Advice Business Investment Grants Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) The objectives Contribute 300m to the local economy Create 1,300 jobs Up-skill and train up to 1,900 local people Develop over 160 ha of land Secure 280m of large inward investment Assist up to 650 local businesses to enter the renewable supply chain Establish Hull as a centre for RDI for the renewables industry 3

4 Employment and Skills Development The aim of this strand is to increase the strength of the local engineering workforce and raise skill levels to meet the needs of the emerging renewable energy sector. Employers can access funding to train employees in the following groups. Apprenticeship Wage Subsidies For apprentices enrolled on Advanced (Level 3) Apprenticeship Frameworks. Examples of the apprenticeship frameworks supported are: Engineering Manufacturing (Craft & Technician) Power Sector Warehousing and Storage Logistics Operations Able Seafarer Electro-Technical Up-skilling Training subsidies to up-skill existing employees. The programme will reimburse employers up to 50% of the direct training costs incurred on training packages to upgrade employees from Level 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and 4 to 5. Disadvantaged Groups - Wage Subsidies Incentives are available for businesses in the renewable energy and engineering sectors to employ people from disadvantaged groups. This includes a subsidy of up to 20% of one year s wages. 4

5 CASE STUDY Daifuku Logan Daifuku Logan, a world leader in the design and development of baggage handling and screening systems for airports around the world, has taken advantage of the subsidy to take on apprentices and up-skill individuals to make them more employable and the business more competitive. Ian Buffey, Operations Manager at Daifuku Logan, said: Training and development is central to our business strategy and is seen as a major contributing factor to our success, with many of our business achievements made possible through the employment of local young people. Their talent has been recognised, nurtured and enhanced through our training programmes, encompassing both apprentice training and up-skilling. The funding support for apprenticeship frameworks and more advanced training provided by the Green Port Growth Programme has been hugely beneficial and the application process was refreshingly simple, so didn t become counterproductive as some funding claims can be. The support we received has been excellent and due to the funding, we were able to increase our apprentice intake significantly. 5

6 Victoria Dock Village Ferry Terminal King George Dock 11 Brough EZ zone 2a b. Saltend Chemicals Park Site Assembly The renewables industry by its nature is land hungry, so the provision of large areas of development land in the immediate vicinity of Green Port Hull is key to kick-starting inward investment and encouraging the co-location of the supply chain. In response to this challenge, local authorities in Hull and the East Riding have worked with partners to bring forward a comprehensive range of sites suitable for all potential investors. Many of the sites are in a 253-hectare Enterprise Zone (EZ) and benefits include: 100 per cent business rate discount worth up to 257,000 over a five year period for businesses moving into the EZ before April 2018 Simplified planning approach - Local Development Order Government support to ensure superfast broadband is rolled out throughout the EZ Enhanced capital allowances for plant and machinery on investments made before April 2020 Paull 1. Green Port Hull: Approx. 58 ha Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) 2a. Queen Elizabeth Dock: (north) Approx ha (LDO) 2b. Queen Elizabeth Dock: (south) Approx ha (ECA) 3. Keystore: Approx ha. Business Rate Discount (ECA) 4. Kingston Parklands Approx. 4.03ha. (BRD) 5. Burma Drive: Approx ha. (BRD) 6. Marfleet Environmental Technology Park: Approx ha. (BRD) 7. Elba Street: Approx ha (BRD) 8. Valletta Street: Approx ha (BRD) 9. Wyke Works: Approx 2.0 ha (BRD) 10. Rix & Kingston International Business Park: 8.13 ha. (BRD) 11. Staithes Road: Approx. 2.0ha (BRD) 12. Paull: Approx. 80 ha (ECA) 13. Brough: Approx 35 ha (BRD)

7 Inward Investment This strand aims to deliver a co-ordinated and proactive inward investment campaign to attract Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their associated tier 1 and 2 supply chain companies to invest in the area and build a co-located value chain. A dedicated team provides support to assist companies investing in the region and advice on processes such as site selection, planning and building control, funding and skills and employment to ensure investment decisions run smoothly. UK and overseas marketing Local businesses will be encouraged to seek opportunities in the renewable energy sector by raising their profiles in overseas markets. The Green Port Growth Programme supports a series of renewable energy exhibitions under the Humber Renewables banner. Financial support is available for local companies wishing to collectively exhibit at these events. International networking and overseas market support is facilitated by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, who assist companies to access new markets by: Delivering overseas trade and networking activity Providing market intelligence reports Accessing international supply chains Forming a Business Ambassador network to promote the region Identifying funding opportunities 7

8 Business Support & Advice This strand will provide continual support to assist local businesses in their development to access opportunities within the renewables sector. The programme offers: Independent appraisals to identify business needs on a case-by-case basis and provides support in areas such as health and safety, quality management and accreditations Information on opportunities within the industry Collaborative working and joint ventures A workshop programme to support the development of business skills and knowledge One-to-one advice from specialists, to identify specific growth areas Individual company development plans and the potential to access financial assistance A co-ordinated approach to maximise opportunities with other business support programmes, including Manufacturing Advisory Service, Growth Accelerator and UK Trade & Investment

9 CASE STUDY MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co. Ltd A specialist in ship repair, conversion and workboat building, MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co Ltd is currently building vessels to service the offshore wind industry. The company already held its ISO 9001:2008 accreditation, but with the increasing demand from clients who wish to be seen as green and environmentally friendly, requests were being made of their suppliers to demonstrate their own environmental awareness. The company received funding through the Green Port Growth Programme to upgrade its ISO accreditations. Photo courtesy of Hull Daily Mail Rob Langton, Managing Director at MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co Ltd, said: Gaining ISO 14001:2004 has enabled us to officially imbed more environmentally-friendly practices to satisfy our clients requirements, as well as generating more interest in our company. Looking ahead, we are now hoping to achieve BS OHSAS 18001: the British Standard for occupational health and safety, which is a high priority for the renewables supply chain. 9

10 Research, Development & Innovation To hit Government targets, companies within the offshore wind supply chain are required to develop products that perform better, are cheaper and more reliable. Research and development is key for businesses developing innovative, competitive products - with on-going R&D programmes enabling businesses to remain competitive in a constantly advancing market place. The R&D Strand is led by the University of Hull. The programme is flexible and can assist businesses in a number of key areas, by: Providing advice, support and facilitating route to market Providing renewable energy R&D experience and expertise Identifying new opportunities with associated R&D needs Developing implementation programmes Engaging, from a R&D perspective, with suppliers and customers within offshore wind (and wider renewables) supply chains Supporting companies in securing external R&D financing Granting funding for bespoke projects Identifying and facilitating access to external R&D expertise Assistance with the identification and protection of intellectual property related to new product or service development 10

11 CASE STUDY Greenstick Energy Ltd Greenstick Energy Ltd, inventors of a novel mooring device for offshore applications, obtained support from the Green Port Growth Programme to file its core patent in seven territories around the world, thus potentially securing its position in these key markets. Inventor of the Greenstick and Managing Director of Greenstick Energy Ltd, David West, successfully secured the UK patent of the device in December 2013 and was keen to protect the IP by applying for international patents. However, time was running out and funding was required to make the applications. He contacted the Green Port Growth Programme team, who recognised the potential of the Greenstick and agreed to fund a carefully selected list of international patent applications. David commented: Without the financial assistance the company received to apply for the international patents, the Greenstick and the advances it could make in marine engineering would have been openly available. The Green Port Growth Programme has enabled Greenstick to be developed into a marketable product, with far less risk of the innovation being hijacked by others who identify its potential. 11

12 Business Investment Grants Green Port Business Investment Grants is a discretionary scheme that provides capital grants to businesses to support sustainable investment in the renewable energy, green technology, engineering and low carbon sectors in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. The grants fund investment projects that will increase productivity, skills and employment. Applicants must show that they need financial help for the project to go ahead. The minimum grant available is 10,000. The grants can be used for projects to: Launch a new business Modernise, expand or re-organise an existing business Upgrade a business by introducing innovative new technology or processes Take a new product from development to production 12

13 Green Port Hull Supplier Directory The Green Port Hull supplier directory has been created as a leading industry resource to showcase the strength and depth of the local businesses. Visit for more information. Our region has enormous breadth of engineering and marine capabilities, as well as strong and diverse supply chains to support the growing renewable energy industry. The directory provides a single point of contact for a vast array of skills and resources, and demonstrates the capabilities, knowledge, services and products businesses have to offer. It s an effective way for organisations to make business connections within industry both nationally and internationally. If you supply the renewables sector, you can create a listing for your business to enable buyers to locate and contact you. One business that has signed up to the Green Port Hull directory is Hull firm Pearson Electrical, specialist electrical engineers with over 30 years of experience in the marine, industrial and hazardous area sectors. Managing Director, Mark Pearson, explains: As a company, we already work in the offshore industry, most recently working with MMS Shipbuilders in designing and installing electrical systems on wind turbine accommodation supply vessels. However, we want to be able to diversify and access new opportunities in the green energy CASE STUDY sector when they arise, which is why we signed up to the directory. It s a great way for local SMEs to be able to promote themselves to the larger contractors in preparation for sub-contract work at Green Port Hull. 13

14 Meet the strand leads Interested in finding out more about the benefits available to your business? These are the people to contact Employment and Skills Development Bob Ferraby Hull City Council Tel: Business Support & Advice Dawn Hall East Riding of Yorkshire Council Tel: Site Assembly Stephen Silvester East Riding of Yorkshire Council Tel: Richard Lowther Hull City Council Tel: Inward Investment Helen Stinson Hull City Council Tel: Business Investment Grants Richard Lowther Hull City Council Tel: Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Dr Alan Lowdon University of Hull Tel: Mob:

15 Green Port Growth Programme Eligibility To be eligible for the Green Port Growth Programme businesses must be located within Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire or be a business looking to invest and locate to Hull or the East Riding of Yorkshire. Other eligibility criteria may apply to individual strands. For further details, please contact the relevant strand leads or visit 15

16 Hull City Council, Guildhall, Hull, HU1 2AA Tel: +44 (0)