It has been described as a vital year for the region’s industrial cluster
Siemens Gamesa’s Hull operation.(Image: Siemens Gamesa / Hull City Council)
Six major employs have joined a group that champions the region’s critical energy industry with further calls for Government action. The Humber Energy Board (HEB) has recruited Shell UK, Siemens Energy, National Gas, energy logistics firm Exolum and CO2 capture project the Northern Endurance Partnership.
The big industry names – who between them employ 13,000 people in the UK and substantial numbers in the region – have become secondary members and joined the board’s calls for Government action to unlock tens of billions of pounds of investment. Meanwhile Humber training provider Catch has joined as an associate member.
Iain Harris, interim managing director of HEB, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new members to the Humber Energy Board, in what is a vital year for the UK’s largest industrial cluster. Our enlarged membership will both diversify and amplify our message to Government that 2026 must be the year to back our region as an industrial powerhouse that can drive transformational growth for UK Plc.
“We will continue working with our members, policy-makers and decision-makers to turn ambition into delivery – unlocking major investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs and building a thriving, prosperous Humber.”
The new members take HEB ranks to 16 companies and organisations. And the secondary members are said to join a powerful group of private sector organisations representing expertise in power generation, hydrogen, carbon capture, energy networks and industrial skills.
Earlier this year, HEB wrote to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in a letter co-signed by 30 businesses and organisation, calling for the Government to “re-energise the Humber” this year. They called for policy action to unlock further investments in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage – with hopes the region could be selected as the location of the UK’s first hydrogen infrastructure network with £500m of support.
The letter outlined how positive policy decisions can transform the Humber economy by moving major energy projects into the delivery phase, stimulating the creation of tens of thousands of skilled jobs, and safeguarding the region’s critical contribution to UK energy security and supply.
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