The future of economic prosperity in South Suffolk and North Essex was the focus of a meeting held this week between key local authority leaders, councillors and representatives from business and the Haven Ports.

The meeting, which was organised and chaired by the Haven Gateway Partnership, examined how current and future market opportunities could be used to ensure the continued growth and development of the Haven Gateway.  In addition to employment and regeneration, a key opportunity identified for inward private sector investment was the application of low carbon technologies.  In particular, the construction of off-shore wind farms at Harwich, which would attract a multi-million pound investment to the Suffolk/Essex coast.

Stephen Bracewell, Vice Chairman of the Haven Gateway Partnership, who chaired the debate, said: “During the discussion we identified that continued collaborative working between the private and public sectors is crucial if we are to secure future renewable energy and port business.  We will continue to work in partnership to identify and overcome obstacles such as shortages of skilled labour and the timely availability of the right sites and premises in order to secure the opportunities that exist.  Over the coming two years we will maintain our focus on maximising the growth, prosperity and investment needs of the area.”

The results from the event will be combined with those from a similar event held on the other side of the estuary in Suffolk. The information will be presented to the Haven Gateway Partnership Board in the Autumn and will form the basis of an action plan to support the sector out of the recession.

A research report, presented at the meeting, explored five key areas in the ports and logistics sector: capacity, competition, infrastructure/employment, planning and employment/skills.  The report, commissioned by the Haven Gateway Partnership, provides much needed evidence to illustrate how important the current and future expansion work at the Haven Ports (Felixstowe, Harwich International, Harwich Navyard, Brightlingsea, Mistley and Ipswich) is and the significant economic contribution they already make: 

• Harwich International Port is the UK’s third most important cruise port, with 10% of the UK cruise market
• The revenue generated by cruise passengers through Harwich generates approx £18m pa
• Harwich is already supporting  the installation of wind turbines at Greater Gabbard, the world’s largest offshore wind farm and is well placed to capture some of the benefits from the anticipated investment of £75billion in the next phase of wind farms which some commentators forecast may offer 70,000 new jobs in the UK by 2020
• Ipswich Port is the UK’s top port for grain exports
• 12% of all those employed in the Haven Gateway sub-region, work in the ports and logistics sector
• The average ports and logistics annual wage is £29,000 - £4k higher than the Haven Gateway sub-regional average
• 1,250 new and replacement ports and logistics jobs are required each year