Humber Freeport
Humber Freeport is a UK government-backed freeport established in 2023 that administers statutory tax incentives across three Humber Estuary tax sites (Hull East, Goole, Immingham) to attract large-scale private investment in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and port-related industries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersHull, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Humber Freeport does
Humber Freeport is a UK government-backed freeport organisation established in 2023, administering statutory tax incentives across three strategically located tax sites on the Humber Estuary: Hull East (energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing cluster centred on the Port of Hull and Saltend Chemicals Park), Goole (inland port and manufacturing hub), and Immingham/Able Humber Port (the centre of the UK's busiest port complex). It offers five core tax instruments — five-year business rates relief, Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, zero-rate Secondary Class 1 National Insurance Contributions for new hires, 100% enhanced capital allowances on qualifying plant and machinery, and a 10% enhanced structures and buildings allowance — to businesses that locate or expand within the designated tax sites, with claims available through 30 September 2031.\n\nThe organisation's revenue model is non-commercial: it is publicly funded via a £25m Government seed capital fund and a £1.3m Site Accelerator Grant, with returns measured in private capital catalysed and jobs created rather than direct revenue. Its product surface comprises the three tax sites, the seed capital fund, and the recently launched £3bn Investment Prospectus. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales: the CEO, Chair and Head of Investment engage directly with global manufacturers, energy majors and property developers at industry conferences (UKREiiF, Innovation Zero, Great Northern Conference, Offshore Wind Connections) and through delivery partners including Wykeland Group, Henry Boot Developments, Associated British Ports, and four local authorities.\n\nNamed investors and partners span LanzaTech (£600m SAF plant), Mitsubishi Chemical (£250m expansion), Siemens Mobility (up to £200m Rail Village), Siemens Gamesa (£186m blade facility expansion), Metsä Tissue (UK's largest planned tissue mill), Meld Energy (£180-240m green hydrogen), Drax (BECCS), Phillips 66 (Humber Zero CCS), Air Products, Uniper, Equinor, and Harbour Energy. The organisation is governed by a consortium Board comprising public-sector bodies and private-sector operators, with current leadership comprising CEO Simon Green, Chair Finbarr Dowling, and Head of Investment Richard Beason.
Humber Freeport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Humber Freeport
- Legal name
- Humber Freeport
- Website
- https://humberfreeport.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Humber Freeport is a UK government-backed freeport established in 2023 that administers statutory tax incentives across three Humber Estuary tax sites (Hull East, Goole, Immingham) to attract large-scale private investment in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and port-related industries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Humber Freeport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Freeport Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA)
Keywords
Where Humber Freeport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Humber Freeport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Public Funding and Government Support: Humber Freeport operates as a publicly-funded economic development initiative. The organization does not generate revenue from selling products or services. It receives government seed capital funding (£25m) to stimulate investment and economic growth across its tax sites, with returns measured in jobs created and private investment attracted rather than direct revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Business rate relief - full relief for 5 years |
| Other | Multi-year contract | National Insurance Contribution relief - zero rate |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Stamp Duty Land Tax relief |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enhanced capital allowance - 100% relief |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enhanced structures and buildings allowance - 10% relief rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Humber Freeport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Humber Freeport is a UK freeport initiative that operates three government-designated tax sites (Hull East, Goole, and Immingham) across the Humber Estuary, offering statutory tax incentives — including full business rates relief for 5 years, Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, zero-rate employer National Insurance Contributions, 100% enhanced capital allowances, and a 10% enhanced structures and buildings allowance — to attract large-scale private investment in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, and port-related industries. It administers a £25m Government Seed Capital Fund (unlocking £170m+ private investment) and a £1.3m Site Accelerator Grant, alongside customs benefits through its designated customs site.
Product overview
Humber Freeport operates as a freeport organization providing a platform for large-scale investment across the Humber region through three strategically located tax sites: Hull East, Goole, and Immingham. The organization offers tax incentives including business rates relief, Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, National Insurance Contribution relief, enhanced capital allowances, and structures and buildings tax relief. The portfolio includes an Investment Prospectus detailing £3bn development opportunities and a £25m Seed Capital Fund that has unlocked over £170m in private investment. Humber Freeport focuses on supporting businesses in clean energy, low carbon technologies, advanced manufacturing, offshore wind, and port-related operations, acting as a catalyst for regional economic growth and decarbonisation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hull East Tax Site A designated freeport tax site located in Hull comprising the Port of Hull and Saltend industrial cluster, supporting investment in clean energy, low carbon technologies, chemicals and advanced manufacturing with direct access to global markets through Humber ports. Open to enterprise investors seeking statutory tax reliefs within the site.
- Goole Tax Site A nationally significant inland port and manufacturing location in East Yorkshire with strong road, rail and inland waterway connections, emerging as a major centre for industrial investment including Siemens Mobility's Rail Village, Metsä Tissue's paper mill, and FREEPORT36. Open to enterprise manufacturers and developers.
- Immingham Tax Site (Able Humber Port) A designated freeport tax site located at the centre of the UK's busiest port complex, supporting investment across offshore wind, energy, bulk cargo and industrial logistics, providing deep-water access and significant port infrastructure. Open to enterprise investors in energy, offshore wind, and logistics.
- Investment Prospectus A comprehensive investment prospectus detailing £3bn in development opportunities across the three Humber Freeport tax sites (Hull East, Goole, Immingham), spanning 600 hectares with potential to create up to 5,000 new jobs. Distributed to enterprise investors, property developers, manufacturers, and government stakeholders at industry events.
- Seed Capital Fund A £25m UK Government seed capital fund administered by Humber Freeport that has unlocked more than £170m in private sector investment for strategically significant projects across the Humber region, including Hull-based manufacturer Ideal Heating, industry skills training provider CATCH, and Associated British Ports infrastructure projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- £3bn investment opportunity across 600 hectares of development land with potential to create 5,000 jobs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Humber Freeport
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Humber Freeport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Humber Freeport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- CATCHcoreIndustry skills training provider at Stallingborough. Humber Freeport provided £5m+ funding for technical skills hub and collaboration space. CATCH expansion supports training for process, energy, engineering and renewables sectors.
- Make UKsupportingManufacturers' association membership connecting Humber Freeport with ~300,000 manufacturing employees in Yorkshire and Humber. Representation on Yorkshire & Humber Regional Advisory Board for policy influence.
- Associated British Ports (ABP)coreABP is the UK's largest ports group and a key consortium member of Humber Freeport. They operate port facilities within the freeport area and sit on the Humber Freeport Board. ABP is critical to the Humber's role as Britain's global gateway with major investments in port infrastructure.
- Able UKcoreAble UK operates the Able Humber Port (Immingham tax site) within Humber Freeport. They are developing an offshore wind and renewables hub with Final Business Case funding from the Site Accelerator Grant.
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC)coreLocal authority covering the north bank of the Humber, including Hull East and Goole tax sites. One of four local authority leaders supporting Humber Freeport governance and devolution deals.
- Hull City Council (HCC)coreLocal authority covering Hull East tax site. Key partner in freeport governance and supporting investments including Mitsubishi Chemical Group expansion and Ideal Heating developments.
- North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC)coreLocal authority supporting Humbergate Infrastructure project and CATCH facility expansion. Part of the four local authority consortium driving freeport delivery.
- Greater Lincolnshire LEPcoreLocal Enterprise Partnership representing Greater Lincolnshire area. Collaborates on economic development, skills, and investment promotion for the Humber region.
- Phillips 66coreMajor energy company operating Humber Refinery and partner in CATCH facility expansion. Involved in Humber Zero carbon capture project and decarbonisation initiatives.
- Harbour EnergycoreEnergy company partner in CATCH facility expansion and Humber Freeport skills initiatives supporting decarbonisation and clean energy transition.
- Drax GroupcoreOperator of Drax Power Station and partner in Humber Energy Board. Leading BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) project as part of Humber 2030 Vision.
- EquinorcoreNorwegian energy company and consortium member. Partner in Humber Energy Board and offshore wind developments in the region.
- UnipercoreEnergy company partner in CATCH facility expansion and Humber Freeport activities supporting decarbonisation and energy transition.
- Air ProductscoreIndustrial gases company partner in CATCH facility expansion supporting industry collaboration in hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable energy sectors.
- Saltend Chemicals Park (px Group)corepx Group operates Saltend Chemicals Park within Hull East tax site. Host to LanzaTech SAF facility, Meld Energy hydrogen plant, and Standard Gas Technologies waste-to-energy project.
- LanzaTechcoreUS carbon recycling firm investing £600m in Dragon II sustainable aviation fuel facility at Saltend Chemicals Park. Part of Humber Freeport's decarbonisation ecosystem.
- Wykeland GroupcoreProperty developer holding long-term development rights to northern Goole tax site. Development partner for Metsä Tissue paper mill and other major investments.
- Henry Boot DevelopmentscoreDevelopment partner for southern Goole tax site (FREEPORT36). Appointed by St John's College Cambridge to develop 300-acre industrial manufacturing and logistics park.
- Humber Energy BoardcoreCross-sector collaboration including Equinor, Harbour Energy, Phillips 66, Prax, RWE, SSE Thermal, Uniper, and public sector. Leading Humber 2030 Vision for £15bn investment and 20,000 jobs.
- Connected Places CatapultsupportingUK innovation accelerator hosting Humber Freeport events at UKREiiF. Partnership for showcasing investment opportunities and innovation ecosystem.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Humber Freeport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teesside Freeport: UK freeport covering Teesport and surrounding tax sites in the Teesside region. Operates the same government-backed tax incentive model as Humber Freeport and competes directly for the same UK offshore wind, hydrogen, chemicals and advanced manufacturing investors.
- Thames Freeport: UK freeport spanning the Thames Estuary (DP World London Gateway, Port of Tilbury, Ford Dagenham). Direct structural peer to Humber Freeport, targeting overlapping advanced manufacturing, logistics and energy transition investment pools with the same statutory tax incentives.
- Liverpool City Region Freeport: UK freeport covering multiple sites around the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal. Operates the same UK freeport tax-incentive framework and competes with Humber Freeport for offshore wind, automotive and advanced manufacturing investment in the North.
- Felixstowe & Harwich Freeport: UK freeport on the east coast focused on container and freight handling around the Port of Felixstowe. Direct structural peer to Humber Freeport under the same UK government freeport policy, with overlapping logistics and clean energy ambitions.
- Solent Freeport: UK freeport centred on Southampton and the Solent region, covering advanced manufacturing, maritime and clean growth tax sites. Operates the same incentive regime as Humber and is one of the 12 UK freeports directly competing for similar industrial investment.
- Forth Green Freeport: Scottish freeport covering sites around the Firth of Forth, focused on renewables and offshore wind. Direct structural peer operating under the same UK freeport model as Humber and competing for the same renewable energy and decarbonisation investment pool.
- East Midlands Freeport: UK freeport covering East Midlands tax sites including East Midlands Airport and Ratcliffe-on-Soar. Operates the same statutory UK freeport incentives as Humber Freeport, competing for advanced manufacturing and logistics investment.
- Plymouth & South Devon Freeport: UK freeport centred on Plymouth and South Devon targeting marine, defence and clean growth sectors. Direct peer under the UK freeport policy framework, competing with Humber for similar advanced manufacturing and clean energy capex.
- Celtic Freeport: Welsh freeport covering Milford Haven and Port Talbot, focused on energy, hydrogen and steel decarbonisation. Direct UK freeport policy peer to Humber Freeport, competing for floating offshore wind and hydrogen investment.
Broad incumbents
- Port of Rotterdam Authority: Europe's largest port authority and broader incumbent in port-led economic development, hydrogen, offshore wind and industrial cluster formation. Comparable to Humber Freeport at a strategic level as a benchmark for how a port-adjacent economic development body operates, even though it is an established port operator rather than a UK freeport.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Humber Freeport social profiles
Digital presenceHumber Freeport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Humber Freeport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Humber Freeport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Humber Freeport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Humber Freeport
What does Humber Freeport do?
Humber Freeport is a UK freeport initiative that operates three government-designated tax sites (Hull East, Goole, and Immingham) across the Humber Estuary, offering statutory tax incentives — including full business rates relief for 5 years, Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, zero-rate employer National Insurance Contributions, 100% enhanced capital allowances, and a 10% enhanced structures and buildings allowance — to attract large-scale private investment in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, and port-related industries. It administers a £25m Government Seed Capital Fund (unlocking £170m+ private investment) and a £1.3m Site Accelerator Grant, alongside customs benefits through its designated customs site.
Is Humber Freeport a public or private company?
Humber Freeport is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Humber Freeport founded?
Humber Freeport was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Humber Freeport based?
Humber Freeport is headquartered in Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Humber Freeport make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Funding and Government Support.
Who are Humber Freeport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teesside Freeport, Thames Freeport, Liverpool City Region Freeport, Felixstowe & Harwich Freeport, Solent Freeport, Forth Green Freeport, East Midlands Freeport, Plymouth & South Devon Freeport and Celtic Freeport. Port of Rotterdam Authority is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Humber Freeport have an API?
No public API is recorded for Humber Freeport.
What industry is Humber Freeport in?
Humber Freeport's product category is Freeport Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHALAA, Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations). Its NAICS code is 488310 and its SIC code is 4400.