Lord Heseltine warns Humber business leaders that renewable energy is 'only a part, not the whole'
HUMBER business leaders have been warned not to get too bogged down in the renewables industry by the man charged with helping change the region's economic landscape.
Lord Haskins, along with other business and political leaders, met former Tory Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine in Hull yesterday.
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FUTURE GROWTH: Tory peer Michael Heseltine and Lord Haskins met to discuss the Humber's role as a pathfinder. Picture: Jack Harland
The senior Tory peer was in the city to discuss the Humber's role as a pathfinder following his report, published last autumn, calling for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to be given control over funds currently administered by Westminster.
He said: "Renewable energy has exciting potential but it's only a part and not the whole.
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"Siemens is seen as a confidence builder of great significance but there are also other opportunities to be grasped.
"The economy as a whole is bigger than Siemens and you can't ignore the rest of it."
Lord Heseltine met local leaders at the World Trade Centre in Queen Street.
He said: "The meeting was very comprehensive and we discussed the LEP's reaction to my report.
"To make the most of the opportunities available will require a significant degree of local working.
"Localism is not difficult to understand. Who knows best what the problems are, the officials in London or those who eat, sleep and breathe the Humber?"
Becoming a pathfinder can only be a good thing for the Humber, Lord Heseltine insists.
He said: "I think that if you can be ahead of the game you learn lessons more quickly and create partnerships earlier than elsewhere. There is a feeling in the Humber there is still a long way to go but this is the right starting point. This is a long term change of culture.
"The next step is waiting for the Government's response to my report. All the indications are that Whitehall is taking this seriously."
Lord Haskins admits there are big challenges ahead.
He said: "Lord Heseltine asked us sharp and direct questions but he is very supportive of what we are trying to achieve. We have to prove we are capable of doing a better job than central Government.
"Improving skills is definitely the biggest issue we face along with infrastructure.
"There is no point in attracting companies here and then finding they have to employ from outside the region because there isn't the skill base.
"We hope being a pathfinder will put us at the forefront and ensure Whitehall gives us special attention.
"However, it also means we will be the one making the mistakes from which other regions can learn."
Lord Haskins admits local authorities across the Humber have to co-operate more effectively.
He said: "We need to get the business community and political leaders to work more closely together.
"The Humber's local authorities could also do better in working alongside one another.
"This is a big opportunity for the Humber and we must not let it slip through our fingers."
The next step will be to form groups to look at the different aspects of the Humber's economy.
Lord Haskins said: "We will be meeting regularly with Lord Heseltine and our next job is to form seven or eight working parties focusing of different sectors to each produce a report in the next two or three months."
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by IHEARTRU
Saturday, February 09 2013, 12:09PM
“What Hull could do with is a fishing industry which employs hundreds of people. We are ideally located.......OH wait hang on we did have a fishing industry which was destroyed by the Tory government back in the 80's when guess who was part of the cabinet.”
by unified
Thursday, February 07 2013, 4:34PM
“Worker111
Employers don't just look at the passes, they look at the total pool. Providing there are enough of potential trainees in the education pool, they will be happy. The last thing they want are employees too qualified to do the semi skilled jobs”
by oxoneast
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 3:22PM
“""CWE,Cosalt Wind Energy based in Grimsby has contracts with Siemans on north sea Windfarms,this could lead to 25 year maintenance,updating contracts,once Siemans has finished the building erectiing the Turbines.As Cosalt have funding problems,after building training premises,new office block,paying loan costs,perhaps the Humberside Local Enterprise Partnership scheme could provide a grant towards the 4 supply vessels needed for the progress of Cosalt.The company is the oldest business in the UK,1882,this surge in contracts on Cosalts doorstep should encourage the employment
of thousands and bring some prosperity to the Humberside region.The windfarms will inter connect with(nuclear,coal,windfarm,generators) undersea power cables,from Ireland,to wales,over land to Manchester,on to Humberside,undersea to Aberdeen then over to Norway.The hydro electric power storage system will ensure the UK grid electricity.This will then link with France,Germany etc.Cosalt have offshore base at Aberdeen,Norway Stavanger,Newcastle,and Humberside,and with the HLEP will/can become the north east coasts biggest employer once again.With HLEP.imo""Can the UK not look ater its own companies first with contracts,also will the 25/30 year maintenance contracts be awarded to UK firms,more of the same,overseas firms awarded £100 Billion to work on the UK windfarms,while our firms have to win contracts without funding.No wonder the east coast has high unemployment.Yesterdays Telegraph has front page article on this nightmare.”
by localvoice
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 2:36PM
“Again the moaners and groaners, The ones wanting to upset the applecart
Lord Hesiltine is clear about what needs to be done and yes we should listen to his business sense (but not his political sense.)
Renewables is only part of the big picture and we need an industry not just a few jobs,that is what Siemens will offer.
Hope for those wanting a job, Hope for those willing to stay at school and get an education streamling them towards the best qualifications for the jobs on offer.
Hesiltine is not the only one who can help build this but he is the one we are lucky enough to have. Lib Dems stay out of it if you cant support the work this administration have done to give us a hope.
Cuts by this government is making life hell for people now, the bedroom tax and other cuts planned in April never mind the massive cuts inposed on our Council services and the unlucky staff loosing jobs.
We dont need a Coalition of lies from the past and present Lib Dems who had been part of the last administration sending Hull into the Black hole of no hope.
Could that be another award for Lib Dems in Hull I wonder.
Now is the time to help our young people our young families to understand what can be done to get them into employment with hope in Hull, all we need is the opportunity Mr Hesiltine.
Support the hard work done by anyone wanting to help us for the present and the future generations, get behind the Business people and the Council Leader and we might have a chance to get out of the black hole.”
by AdPotentia
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:13PM
“This wouldn't be the first of a series of back peddling statements/articles in case Seimens doesn't sign, would it?
Its about time they got their pen out and signed on the dotted line.”
by JayOnly
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:03PM
“Oh, I forgot, most importantly, East Hull is a remote, cut off island and looks like it's gonna be more so”
by JayOnly
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:01PM
“I neither like or dislike Micky Hesletine but I think what he says is largely true. AND don't forget Hull doesn't vote Tory so don't expect a deluge of help from Westminster. Apart from that I think the re generation thing is a bit of a white elephant. And if I was investing in that field I think I'd be across the river...better roads - no Myton St hold ups - nearer to the sea, skilled workers.”
by Worker111
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:15AM
“Kimin,
look at the stats (because companies looking to locate here will) Hull as some of the poorest standards of education in Western Europe.
I'm not saying there are no kids who value education, but statisticly we are way behind other areas, and these are the areas we are trying to compete with.
Look at all hte poorest areas in the country, and they will be same ones at the bottom of the exams table.
This is not a coincidence”
by PatrickNewman
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 9:55AM
“Heseltine is one of the least dislikeable of Tories which is why his proposals will be fudged or ignored by the government. Siemens is a long time coming.”
by KiminHull
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 9:37AM
“It's not like it was years ago, there are plenty of kids leaving schools with lots of qualification. My son had 13 GCSEs and most in his year had at least 7. The go onto do their college, Uni, but then the problems come when it's time to get a job. Most of the young ones in my family have great qualification in practical subjects, but are sat in retail and the like. Siemans and the like can come and tap into a wealth of unused talent, we just need them to come.”