Forth Green Freeport up and running

Six weeks on from being officially opened for business, Forth Green Freeport (FGF) is now well into the process of working to attract businesses, jobs and investment. The Scottish and UK Governments granted approval of FGF’s Outline Business Case last month, alongside the designation of its three tax sites in Grangemouth, Rosyth, Mid-Forth (Leith and Burntisland). Almost immediately, Port of Leith was announced by Vestas as a possible location for a new facility manufacturing wind turbine blades.

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said: “It’s great to see Forth Green Freeport up and running and we look forward to continuing to work with them to identify future potential economic opportunities and deliver on the benefits of Green Freeport status.” This significant milestone for the FGF public/private consortium will attract businesses and jobs, aided by a suite of financial incentives to deliver major economic and net zero benefits for Scotland as a whole and the local communities in Fife, Falkirk, Leith and beyond. Focusing on the key target sectors of offshore wind, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, modular manufacturing and logistics, FGF will support the re-industrialisation of Central Scotland and large-scale economic regeneration over the next decade.

Forecasts indicate that there is the potential to attract GBP7bn of private and public investment over the next decade, delivering Gross Value Added (GVA) of GBP8.4bn. This could generate up to 38,350 well paid, highly skilled, green jobs, with almost 19,000 of these being direct gross jobs linked to the FGF’s target sectors and tax sites. Dame Susan Rice DBE is Chair of Forth Green Freeport.

She said: “This is it, Forth Green Freeport is officially open for business. It is an important time for the Green Freeport as we move through the business case development phase to delivery for Scotland. “Through innovations in offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and commissioning, alongside innovative shipbuilding, modular assembly and hydrogen manufacture, the country’s net zero targets can be boosted by Forth Green Freeport.

“This is a long-term project and one which we know will deliver real benefits to the local communities through economic growth, skills re-training and training and access to high quality, green jobs.” The announcement from Vestas is an example of how Green Freeport status can be used to boost Scotland’s renewable energy credentials with the potential to create hundreds of quality, green jobs in Scotland, supporting the just transition to net zero. The investment incentives will only apply to businesses who commit to and deliver against a set of demanding Investor Principles that will guide all landowners and developers.

These include abiding by the Fair Work Charter, which prioritises the rights, wages and working conditions of employees. The principles also require businesses to buy into Forth Green Freeport’s net zero commitments. Strong governance is a key thread with a governing board with public and private sector members already established and active and with an independent Chair, Dame Susan Rice DBE.

It comprises representatives from all consortium partners and includes elected members from all three local authorities and advisers from both the Scottish and UK Governments.

An invitation has also been extended to the Scottish Trades Union Council (STUC) to have a worker representative on the board.