Humber’s competitive edge: Why place matters for investment, talent and growth

Built in Humber: How place shapes business success was a Future Humber session delivered as part of Reality Solutions’ Business Systems Showcase at the University of Hull.

Hosted by Paige McGowan, Head of Marketing and Communications at Future Humber, and Olly Burdett, Marketing Manager at Future Humber, the discussion brought together Linsey Brown, Director of C4DI, and Richard Beason, Head of Investment at Humber Freeport.

The conversation explored how Humber can turn its existing strengths into tangible outcomes: winning investment, attracting and retaining talent, supporting businesses to grow and building greater pride and confidence in the region.

Richard highlighted Humber’s people, skills, industrial capability and collaborative approach as important advantages when competing for investment, adding that prospective investors often gain a different understanding of the scale of the opportunity once they experience Humber first-hand.

He said: “It is easier to do business here than I would say pretty much anywhere else, because of the collaborative approach.”

The discussion also recognised the opportunity to build on that strength by making collaboration more consistent across Humber, breaking down remaining silos and bringing organisations together around shared opportunities.

Richard also highlighted the importance of national policy in converting major opportunities into investment, particularly around energy and industrial transition, and the need for Humber to continue making a strong, coordinated case to Government.

Linsey focused on the relationship between place, innovation and talent, highlighting the technology capability already present in Humber and the opportunity to make more of those successes visible.

She also emphasised the importance of collaboration between smaller businesses and major employers, creating clearer pathways into high-value careers and giving young people greater confidence that they can build successful futures in Humber.

The conversation explored the four Humber values: Revolutionary, Resourceful, Remarkable and Real. Identified through extensive engagement with people within Humber and beyond, the values provide a shared language for what distinguishes the region and how its strengths can be communicated with greater confidence.

Linsey identified Remarkable as the value that resonated most strongly with her work at C4DI, while Richard selected Real, reflecting the importance of delivery, authenticity and straightforward relationships.

The session forms part of a wider conversation about how Humber can use place as an economic asset, strengthening its reputation alongside the infrastructure, skills, businesses and investment opportunities already here.

That conversation will continue at the Humber Place Forum on 19 October, bringing together voices from business, investment, local government, education, culture and communities to explore how a stronger shared story can help Humber win investment, retain talent, support growth and build pride in place.

The Forum will centre on one question: How do we shape the story of Humber, and what role can we each play in it?