The voice of business in the Tees region | 7
/NEWS
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen
hosted US ambassador Woody
Johnson on a tour of the region.
BUSINESS BITES
INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP
Teesside University has signed a
memorandum of understanding
with CPI, part of the High Value
Manufacturing Catapult, to lead the
growth of the biosciences sector in
the region and beyond, creating new
research, education and collaboration
opportunities.
BIOSCIENCE BOOST
‘Special relationship’ hailed as
US ambassador visits Tees region
T
he strong links between the Tees
Valley and the United States have
been praised as mayor Ben Houchen
hosted US ambassador Woody Johnson on
a tour of the region.
In a packed schedule, Mr Johnson
and mayor Houchen visited major US
businesses that have a Tees Valley base,
including transportation systems firm Cubic,
pigment and additive business Venator and
energy giant ConocoPhillips.
They also visited the South Tees
Development Corporation site in Redcar,
where Mr Johnson heard from a major
American firm that is in talks to invest
hundreds of millions of pounds into the site.
He was also given an overview of the
vision for the 4,500-acre brownfield area,
which represents the biggest development
opportunity in the UK today.
The mayor secured this latest visit with
a view to ramping up the discussions
surrounding the US investor and future
inward investment into the region.
Mayor Houchen said: “As a country there
is no relationship more important as the one
we have with our US friends.
“As a region we have a wealth of US-
based companies doing fantastic work,
investing hundreds of millions of pounds
into our regional economy and employing
hundreds of local people.
“From Cubic Transportation helping
revolutionise the way we travel, to Venator,
ConocoPhillips, Caterpillar and many more.
But more than that, we have the UK’s
biggest investment opportunity in the South
Tees Development Corporation site, and
I’m working hard to cement new investors,
meaning more jobs for local people.
“The strong and enduring links between
our two nations will ultimately benefit
everyone living here in the Tees Valley.”
Johnson added: “It’s great to be in
Teesside where there is so much US
investment in the UK.
“This really highlights what we have
always said, increased US-UK trade and
investment means more and better jobs and
more prosperity for both our countries.”
‘GAME-CHANGING’ FREE
PORT OPPORTUNITY
T
ees Valley mayor Ben Houchen
welcomed the government
announcement that a Free Ports
Commission will be established to create
up to ten such zones across the UK.
Secretary of State for International Trade
Liz Truss MP joined mayor Houchen and
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
MP Simon Clarke on a visit to PD Ports to
reveal the news of the Commission, which
will invite ports and airports across the UK
to bid to become one of up to ten Free
Ports across the country.
The minister also met leaders of local
exporting businesses to discuss the
potential economic benefit of Free Ports.
Truss said: “Freedoms transformed
London’s Docklands in the 1980s, and Free
Ports will do the same for towns and cities
across the UK.
Nearly £300,000 of funding has been
granted to researchers at Teesside
University to explore ground-breaking
developments in bioscience, working
with leading local companies such as
Quorn, Croda and Fujifilm Diosynth
Technologies.
The money has been granted via the
THYME project which is a collaboration
between Hull, York and Teesside
universities to boost the bioeconomy
across Yorkshire, Humber and the Tees
Valley
QUEEN’S HONOUR FOR JANE
Jane Reynolds was made an MBE
for services to industry and the Tees
Valley economy in the Queen’s Birthday
Honours 2019.
Jane has been recognised for both
her leadership as the voluntary chair of
the Tees Valley Business Club (TVBC)
and her years of business development
for investment funding across the North-
East, most recently with Northstar
Ventures (NSV).
AWARD SHOE-IN
A Tees-based family footwear firm has
beaten the likes of Clarks and Schuh to
a national award recognising the best of
the best in the industry
Charles Clinkard, which has stores
across the UK and its headquarters in
Middlesbrough, was named Multiple
Footwear Retailer of the Year at the
Drapers Awards held at London’s
Grosvenor House.
The win is a huge accolade for the
company which beat off competition
from finalists including Clarks, Schuh,
Dune and Kurt Geiger.
Secretary of State for International Trade Liz
Truss MP joined Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen
and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
MP Simon Clarke on a visit to PD Ports.
“They will ensure enterprise and
manufacturing as the gateway to our future
prosperity, creating thousands of jobs.”
Mayor Houchen says a Free Port in the
Tees Valley could provide a net boost of
£2billion to the UK economy and up to
32,000 new jobs over 25 years.
A generational opportunity for Teesside
– PD Ports COO Jerry Hopkinson speaks
out on “profound case” for Free Ports
(pages 78-79).
A transport plan outlining the priorities
and proposals for the future of travel in
Tees Valley has been launched by Tees
Valley Combined Authority. It includes
£257m of schemes to improve transport
across the region. It is part of the Tees
Valley mayor’s and combined authority’s
£588m 10-year investment plan.
#TalkingUpTeesside #TalkingUpTeesValley