Freeport East recruits new members with ‘Essex and Suffolk expertise’

Jonathan Rudd, Laura Mayne and Sophia Padget have joined the Freeport East team as project delivery officers and will operate across Freeport East's wide range of projects. Freeport East chief executive Steve Beel said: "We're delighted to welcome Sophia, Laura and Jonathan to the Freeport East team. "They all bring deep local knowledge of Essex and Suffolk, together with expertise in a range of areas of economic development, inward investment and programme delivery. 

"With the Government looking for growth, and the Industrial Strategy providing enormous opportunities for our region, we're looking forward to the three of them contributing in our mission to attract new investment, create jobs and extend the benefits of growth throughout our local communities." Freeport East[1] is one of eight new Freeports in England which aim to use targeted tax benefits to boost trade and inward investment. Bosses predict it will create 13,500 new jobs and generate GBP5.5billion for the economy over 10 years.

Priorities for 2025 include "unlocking sustainable growth" at each of the freeport development sites in Harwich, Felixstowe and Stowmarket, as well as working with universities and other partners.

Another priority is to create a Freeport East Green Corridor Partnership with East Midlands Freeport, which would develop supply chains for the offshore wind sector and encourage greener transport investment.

References

1. ^ Freeport East (www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk)