The East Riding Opportunity: Where the UK’s Next Decade of Growth Will Be Delivered 

By Paul Bellotti, East Riding of Yorkshire Council Chief Executive 

Ambition for growth is widespread across the UK, with a deeply competitive environment for investment and job creation. However, increasingly the deciding factor for investors is delivery. 

That is where Hull and East Yorkshire stands apart. 

Hull and East Yorkshire has a consistent track record of translating strategy into action, from securing Humber Freeport status to establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority. The region has created the foundations for long-term investable growth, that is underpinned by clear governance, strong partnerships and a commitment to effective delivery. 

At the heart of the commitment to delivery is the prospect of certainty. 

Investors today need confidence as well as opportunity.  They need confidence that decisions will be made quickly, that infrastructure will support growth, and that local leadership is aligned behind a clear economic vision. Hull and East Yorkshire’s £400 million devolved investment programme and a long-term plan to 2045, offers that clear framework. 

This framework has been built upon decades of industry, trade and innovation. The Humber is the UK’s busiest trading estuary, with a £16 billion economy, including key manufacturing hubs that contribute over 20% of GVA, more than double the national average. 

These strengths align with the future of the UK economy. 

The region is already a national leader in clean energy, including offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. It is home to advanced manufacturing across sectors such as rail, chemicals and med-tech. Its ports and logistics infrastructure provide direct access to European and global markets, while its agri-food sector is driving innovation in sustainable food production. 

This alignment means that investment in Hull and East Yorkshire is strategic and built upon strong economic foundations. 

Crucially, Hull and East Yorkshire provide a coordinated pipeline of investment opportunities that can unlock growth across the whole region, at scale. 

This includes major regeneration schemes such as Albion Square and East Bank, strategic employment sites like the Western Docklands, and critical infrastructure improvements including the Leeds–Goole–Hull rail enhancement. There are also nationally significant initiatives such as the Flood Resilience Centre, as well as coastal regeneration projects to strengthen the region’s visitor economy. 

Together, these projects form a compelling, place-based investment proposition that combines immediate opportunity with long-term value. 

Since 2020, the region has secured over £1 billion in inward investment, demonstrating both market confidence and the ability to deliver at scale. 

However, Hull and East Yorkshire has greater ambitions, to deliver growth that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient. This means ensuring that investment supports economic expansion as well as stronger communities with better infrastructure and improved quality of life. This is reflected in the region’s growing visitor economy, already worth over £800 million annually, with a clear trajectory to exceed £1 billion by 2028. 

For investors, this demonstrates the region’s long-term viability. It shows that Hull and the East Riding are a business-friendly environment that can attract talent, scale operations and long-term success. 

Ultimately, Hull and East Yorkshire offer something increasingly valuable in today’s investment landscape – a region that knows where it is going, and how to get there. 

With strong fundamentals, a clear strategic direction and a proven ability to deliver, it is a place where ambition is matched by action – and where investment can move forward with confidence.