Nick Clegg: 'We are seeing a renewed Grimsby dockside'

DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has used Grimsby as the launchpad for a new industrial strategy for offshore wind that brings British jobs and British manufacturing to the fore.

Praising the "commitment of the people of Grimsby and everybody involved" as he officially opened Lincs offshore wind farm from the town yesterday, he then unveiled a new process that will enforce developers to outline the supply chain to be drawn on before Government issues licences.

It was one of a range of measures to encourage investment in manufacturing and ensure the country benefits from a subsidised industry that is revolutionising the area.

Recalling a visit he made from Grimsby to the early stage construction of Lynn and Inner Dowsing, he said: "The last time I came here four years ago it did look quite different. This time there is a gleaming new building. If we get this industry getting bigger and bigger, year on year, it will mean even more jobs in the local area. I know there are concerns that so many people are flown in from elsewhere, but there are promising signs. I have spoken to apprentices here, and we have unveiled an offshore wind strategy that identifies 30,000 more jobs. We are working with industry, ensuring that the British supply chain is given a fair crack of the whip in future."

The highest ranking politician to visit the town in several years, joined by Secretary of State for Energy Ed Davey, had earlier taken a helicopter tour of the wind farm, located five miles off the Skegness coast, before being driven on to the North Quay of Port of Grimsby East, where the £3 million Centrica Energy operations and maintenance base is now being joined by facilities for E.on and Dong.

And he spoke of the importance of energy in rebuilding the economy.

"We as a country are recovering from one of the greatest cardiac arrests of our economy, back in 2008, that we have witnessed in over a generation.

"We need to not just deal with the symptoms of this, the banking sector, the hole in public spending, we need to rewire and rebalance, so that growth and profitability returns on a more sustainable and balanced basis.

"That applies in the energy sector as much as it does anywhere else. We have over-relied on energy imports from volatile and unstable parts of the world, which has led to volatile and unstable prices. The energy policy we are pursuing is based on a simple idea... we need to spread our bets, and be more diverse and more efficient.

"The offshore wind energy industry plays an essential part in all of this."

Reflecting on the fact that Lincs – the Centrica-led venture with Dong and Siemens has pushed Britain over the 10GW threshold, meaning that 5.5 million households can now be powered by offshore wind, Mr Clegg said: "We are already world leaders, with more installed capacity than anywhere else put together, and we are in a global race.

"When you are in pole position, the thing to do is put your foot on the accelerator and increase the lead, and not squander it. That's what we are determined to do and that's the reason I'm delighted to be here."

Asked about the latest delays to the Able Marine Energy Park – the proposal for North Killingholme that could provide a base for a considerable share of the British supply chain requirement, with an original deadline from the Department for Transport now pushed back to later this month, Mr Clegg said: "I understand the frustration about the Able Marine Energy Park, and understand it is to do with planning. I just hope it is a delay and nothing worse than that. The planning deadline has been delayed by a relatively short period of time, after which I hope it will be able to secure consent, as it will have a transformative effect."

Mr Davey spoke highly of the vital relationship between the ports and energy sector that was a key element of northern Lincolnshire's offer, as well as the geographical asset of being so close to many of the developments.

"It is an incredibly important area," he said. "We see this region as an energy cluster, with the potential for getting manufacturing companies here, as well as the generation element, which is already on the go. There are lots of skills and a huge maritime tradition here in Grimsby. People here know the waters and I think it is a really fantastic relationship. It is good to see Centrica, Dong and Siemens here, investing, with more than 100 people working directly. I hope those jobs are just the first of many more to come."

This was echoed by Mark Hanafin, managing director of Centrica Energy, who outlined the potential Race Bank offers, a larger wind farm that is being considered by the utility giant, in close reach of Grimsby.

Mr Hanafin said: "I am delighted that we were able to make the decision to build Centrica's operations and maintenance base here in Grimsby. The support we have had from the council and the people of Grimsby has been phenomenal. It has given me great pleasure to be able to grow the team from nine people five years ago, to more than 100 today.

"We now hope the offshore wind industry will continue to bring important jobs to this important town.

"Our partner Siemens, has recruited 19 apprentices, and following in the footsteps of the Danish ancestors who founded the town – all very friendly I'm sure – Dong is bringing operations here, too.

"We are seeing a renewed Grimsby dockside."