Member Article

Teesside firm secures £15 million grant for scheme set to create hundreds of jobs

Teeside firm Able UK, who recently began a major dredging operation at Able Seaton Port facility on the Tees, is to begin work on the Marine Energy Project in efforts to establish the Humber as a world-class centre for the renewable energy industries.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles marked the start of work in preparation for the development of the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) on the Humber.

The infrastructure programme is being supported through Mr Pickles’ department with a £15 million grant provided through the Enterprise Zone Foundations for Growth Capital Grant Fund following a successful bid from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.

The £450m AMEP project is set to create over 4,100 direct jobs and is seen as vital to the plans for growing the Humber as the UK’s Energy Estuary.

The infrastructure programme, which is set to continue until March next year, is expected to create 350 full time construction jobs.

Peter Stephenson, executive chairman of Able UK said: “For a sector where proximity to market means everything to everyone, it makes sense to offer a big space in the right place, with substantial quays built to accommodate the deployment of large industrial components to the North Sea and beyond – all this, in the heart of the largest offshore wind market in the world.”

Mr Pickles said: “With the majority of the North Sea’s offshore operations thriving side by side the Humber is becoming, quite literally, a powerhouse in the British economy and is a vital part of the Government’s long term economic plan to help secure a better future by spreading businesses, jobs and skills across the country.

“Today’s cash injection will help ensure that the Able marine energy park site will become a strong, competitive part of this growing renewable energy hub, attracting new businesses and creating jobs for hardworking local people.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .