Humber Freeport

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.

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

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

• Freeport tax incentives
• Economic development services
• Investment facilitation services
• Industrial zone development
• Trade and customs benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CATCHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Industry 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 UKsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Manufacturers' 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABP 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 UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAble 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority supporting Humbergate Infrastructure project and CATCH facility expansion. Part of the four local authority consortium driving freeport delivery.
• Greater Lincolnshire LEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Enterprise Partnership representing Greater Lincolnshire area. Collaborates on economic development, skills, and investment promotion for the Humber region.
• Phillips 66coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor energy company operating Humber Refinery and partner in CATCH facility expansion. Involved in Humber Zero carbon capture project and decarbonisation initiatives.
• Harbour EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partner in CATCH facility expansion and Humber Freeport skills initiatives supporting decarbonisation and clean energy transition.
• Drax GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperator 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.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian energy company and consortium member. Partner in Humber Energy Board and offshore wind developments in the region.
• UnipercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partner in CATCH facility expansion and Humber Freeport activities supporting decarbonisation and energy transition.
• Air ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial gases company partner in CATCH facility expansion supporting industry collaboration in hydrogen, carbon capture and renewable energy sectors.
• Saltend Chemicals Park (px Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerpx 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.
• LanzaTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS carbon recycling firm investing £600m in Dragon II sustainable aviation fuel facility at Saltend Chemicals Park. Part of Humber Freeport's decarbonisation ecosystem.
• Wykeland GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty developer holding long-term development rights to northern Goole tax site. Development partner for Metsä Tissue paper mill and other major investments.
• Henry Boot DevelopmentscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDevelopment 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 BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-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 CatapultsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/HumberFreeport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Humber Freeport