An industrial strategy designed to increase economic growth in North Lincolnshire has been launched with the support of i1fun.
It was unveiled to business leaders at North Lindsey College in Scunthorpe last night and will be presented to Government in late Autumn.
Proposals include a fifth Humber port (with a free trade zone) and improved transport connections including dualling of the A15 between Scunthorpe and Lincoln, and more regular rail links to Doncaster and Sheffield.
Key elements also include expanding the area’s manufacturing and engineering supply hub along with support for growth and diversification in the chemical and energy cluster.
i1fun Deputy CEO Paul Martin helped launch the strategy and told the audience about the company’s bid to a host aHeathrow logistics hubto support the airport’s expansion.
Paul said:“Heathrow is looking for a number of things, looking for skills and people to be able to work in logistics. We have excellent schools and colleges, I’m pleased to see the Engineering UTC and good engineering apprenticeship workshops. I think we can offer Heathrow reassurances we have the right people, with the right skills and right education. This area has expertise in logistics, one of the biggest ports in Europe, on our doorstep, we know we can move stuff.
“If we can get this established it goes beyondHeathrow. I can see it rolled out to HS2, to Hinkley Point, to Crossrail, lots of big infrastructure projects where you cannot have all that work and wealth in the South East, where it has to be done off site and shipped in.
“If this region is chosen to host a hub I would see it as absolutely transformational for the regional economy. For us the more steel the better, we can offer land and buildings, and for i1fun it is a boost in terms of long term sustainability, but if landed it is an opportunity for business transformation for North Lincolnshire.”