Freeport bid to create over 28 thousand jobs in South Yorkshire launches

6th February 2021

An ambitious bid has been launched for a new Freeport which could make South Yorkshire the largest advanced manufacturing hub in Europe, putting the area at the heart of world-class innovation.

If the bid is successful, South Yorkshire will become one of ten new freeports across the UK. Once established the freeport will help build on South Yorkshire’s longstanding reputation for innovation & excellence & further establish the region as a hub for global trade & investment.

The Freeport, backed by key industry figures & politicians, centres around Doncaster Sheffield Airport & the iPort logistics hub – which have substantial plans for growth – major manufacturers including Sheffield Forgemasters & Liberty Steel, & more than 360 hectares of l& primed for development (at GatewayEast, Junction36 & iPort).

New modelling suggests a Freeport in the South Yorkshire would:

• Create 28,700 new jobs
• Increase wages by at least 19% (due to a focus on advanced manufacturing)
• Add £169m to the South Yorkshire economy every year
• Boost imports by £306m & exports by £410m
• Unlock or accelerate over £570m of investment
• Transform the Sheffield City Region into a net exporter of goods by 2029

Robert Hough, Chair of Peel Airports Group which includes Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “Ports & airports are well known as hubs for global trade & investment. Freeport status would only enhance that. By bringing together the UK’s first strategic rail port for a decade at iPort & one of the longest runways in the UK with capacity to grow at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Peel, Harworth & Verdion have proven track records in delivering transformational projects, helping to create jobs & opportunities for local people.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “Establishing a freeport will help our region’s businesses & universities export ideas, goods & services across the world, supporting our ambitions for a new era of prosperity & a stronger, greener & fairer economy for South Yorkshire after the coronavirus pandemic. It will help to unlock our region’s potential & create opportunities for people, places & businesses.

“Our region has incredible strengths in research & innovation & businesses capable of substantial growth. Government must now back our bid to establish a freeport to generate the jobs, training & investment needed to deliver prosperity for people & businesses across the region & the North.

“This is an opportunity for government to show its commitment to levelling up & unlock South Yorkshire’s potential.”

Freeports are part of a Government strategy & Chancellor Rishi Sunak has put them at the heart of the levelling up agenda & his plans for post-Brexit Britain, saying recently: “Our new Freeports will create national hubs for trade, innovation & commerce, levelling up communities across the UK, creating new jobs, & turbo-charging our economic recovery.”

The plan for a South Yorkshire Freeport would see a supercharged business area created to boost trade & incentives for investment, job creation & commercial development.

Jon Ferriman, Managing Director of Liberty Steel UK added: “The Freeport will allow us to grow our exports, supercharge innovation & support the businesses of the future.  The region’s existing advanced manufacturing base of course already includes ourselves, Sheffield Forgemasters, McLaren, Boeing, & others, but there is potential to go so much further.  This Freeport will help to secure existing businesses & ensure more well-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing come to South Yorkshire in the future.”

Article Provided by Doncaster Sheffield Airport

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