With Grimsby making headline news earlier this week as the ‘worklessness’ capital of Britain, Stallingborough-based renewable energy tech manufacturer myenergi is calling for local businesses to stand up to the criticism, champion the region and celebrate the thriving community that makes the town great.

While the publicity may paint a bleak picture, co-founder Jordan Brompton is keen to raise awareness of the industry-defining work that takes place behind closed doors, as well as to showcase the pioneering businesses that call the town home. With myenergi’s global headquarters based in Stallingborough, Brompton is passionate about Grimsby’s potential, as well as its position at the very heart of the UK’s renewable energy revolution.

She comments: “We can’t escape the fact that Grimsby has been hit hard by the decline of the fishing industry, but we also shouldn’t shy away from the resurgence of North East Lincolnshire as a fantastic place to do business and a real hub of clean energy innovation. Almost 2,000 local residents are already employed within the renewables industry – a number only set to increase as more and more important projects get underway.

“There are a whole host of inspirational businesses that have chosen Grimsby as their base. From Orsted’s £14m East Coast Hub, to port offices of E.ON, RWE and the Renewable Energy Systems Group (RES), the clean energy industry is kick-starting Grimsby’s revival. The wider Humber Energy Estuary cluster includes Siemens’ wind turbine blade manufacturing operations and the Able Marine Energy Park – it’s a thriving community centred around the future of clean, green, decentralised power.

“Add to this the headquarters of pharmaceutical giants Novartis and ALLpaQ, and it’s clear to see that the town is fast-becoming a the centre for a number of essential industries, something that the headlines often fail to recognise.

“As a leading global player in renewable energy technology, we could have based the business in London, Eindhoven or even Silicon Valley, but we’re absolutely committed to North East Lincolnshire. And why wouldn’t you be? The opportunities are extensive, the talent pool is plentiful and you’re surrounded by some of the most innovative green businesses anywhere in the UK. Two thirds of our workforce are from the local area and we find that those we employ from Grimsby and the surrounding area are incredibly resilient, hard-working and resourceful.”

“We’re passionate believers in the transformative role of sustainability, as well as the importance of embracing renewable energy, decarbonising the supply chain and accelerating the global transition to electrification. Many of the companies based around the Humber Estuary are operating at the absolute forefront of this industry and we’re proud to be part of the movement.

“It’s safe to say that Grimsby is often painted in a bad light, but this dated view fails to scratch the surface. A recent study revealed that the town is considered a far better place to live than Liverpool, Bournemouth and even Oxford. However, misconceptions are holding us back.

“I think local businesses have a key role to play in championing the region and celebrating what makes Grimsby great. We collectively need to be seen as the driver of the green movement, the centre of excellence for tomorrow’s low carbon technology and the heart of the UK’s technology melting pot.

“As a region, we’re contributing significantly to the economy and leading the way in the transition to net zero. We mustn’t hide our light or play down our contribution, we should be proud to stand up and be counted.”