The Government has published its Industrial Strategy, along with the first tranche of Sector Plans. This document outlines the key measures that will be undertaken to boost productivity and growth – which the East could significantly contribute to with the right connectivity infrastructure.
The East of England will have a crucial role to play in delivering the Industrial Strategy. As set out in our landmark report, Opportunity East, the region is home to many businesses in key sectors identified in the strategy. 15% of all life sciences businesses are in the East, along with 20% of agritech businesses – a subsector of advanced manufacturing – and 12.5% of all digitech businesses.
The East is also home to key enabling industries identified as crucial in the Industrial Strategy. Our important international trade hubs such as Felixstowe Port, London Gateway, and our airports, are a key trading link to the rest of the world.
Therefore, we welcome the announcement of £350m Nations and Regions Investment Fund announced for the South east and the East, ensuring that funding from the British Business Bank will be used to provide targeted funding for crucial clusters in our area.
The strategy focusses on the key clusters that will drive the UK’s economy going forward – and as a result, it is important that the supercluster around Cambridge and Peterborough was well highlighted as a key driver of growth for the UK. Furthermore, it is rightly acknowledged that the East is a core part of the UK’s energy sector, with the great work being undertaken by Freeport East to promote green hydrogen being recognised in the Clean Energy Sector Plan.
However, there are a host of other key clusters in the East that went without mention. For example:
- Adastral Park, BT’s global R&D headquarters, is located just outside of Ipswich, and is leading research on quantum computing and cybersecurity.
- Hertfordshire is home to both Warner Bros Studios and Elstree Studios, with the sector due to expand greatly with the recently consented Universal Studios theme park in nearby Bedfordshire.
- Essex is home to one of the largest advanced manufacturing and engineering clusters in the country, with companies such as BAE Systems, Ford Motor Company, CNH, Gardner Aerospace, Raytheon, and Teledyne based here.
- Several world-leading research institutes are based in Norfolk, including The John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, The Quadram Institute, The Earlham Institute and the Norfolk Clinical Research Facility.
To make sure that key clusters, including the ones outlined above, continue to prosper within the East, it’s important that our region receives the investment it deserves. Key projects such as Ely and Haughley rail schemes will improve connectivity both within our region, and between our key international hubs and the rest of the country, boosting trade. Likewise, investment into 5G mobile and fibre optic broadband connectivity will help high tech businesses in our more rural areas flourish. Therefore, we ask the Government to provide more funding to assist in building this connectivity, for example, through the Gigabit voucher scheme for rural communities.
Cllr Andrew Mellen, Lead Member for Infrastructure, Growth and Planning at LGE, and Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, said the following:
“The East of England is a critical part of the UK’s economy, and with key connectivity upgrades, our region could unlock the delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. We will continue to encourage support for our leading clusters and demonstrate how local authorities support the region’s businesses.”
