UK Ambassador to Denmark Champions Economic Ties with Grimsby and Immingham Businesses

Strategic Insights -

British Ambassador to Denmark Joelle Jenny has embarked on a cross-country tour to promote economic growth and strengthen relationships with local businesses and authorities in the UK. As part of this initiative, she visited Danish-based offshore wind power firm Orsted in Grimsby and met with business leaders, including North East Lincolnshire Council's leader Cllr Philip Jackson and Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns. The visit aimed to boost trade and investment between the UK and Denmark, with the Foreign Secretary emphasizing the importance of harnessing expertise and championing local interests.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ambassador Jenny visited Orsted's operations centre in Grimsby, which employs over 1,300 people in the UK, including 520 at its East Coast Hub.
  • Total trade between the UK and Denmark was worth £15.4bn in 2024, making Denmark the UK's 23rd largest trading partner.
  • Orsted plans to grow its workforce in Grimsby to over 800 by 2030, with its 12 operational offshore wind farms currently powering over four million homes across the UK.
  • DFDS, another Danish business, employs around 3,300 people in the UK, including over 1,000 on the Humber, and is a founder patron of the Horizon Youth Zone project in Grimsby.
  • The Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, emphasized the importance of growth and inward investment, stating that visits like this will help promote the region's economic opportunities.
  • North East Lincolnshire Council's leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, highlighted the region's strong and vibrant economic future, with plans to create an environment where businesses can thrive and people are equipped with the skills needed to take up employment opportunities.

Statistics:

  • £15.4bn: The total worth of trade between the UK and Denmark in 2024.
  • £1m: The amount of cash Orsted has contributed to the development of the OnSide Horizon Youth Zone project in Grimsby.
  • 1,300: The number of people employed by Orsted in the UK, including 520 at its East Coast Hub in Grimsby.
  • 800: The planned workforce size in Grimsby by 2030.
  • 3,300: The number of people employed by DFDS in the UK, including over 1,000 on the Humber.
  • 4 million: The number of homes powered by Orsted's 12 operational offshore wind farms in the UK.

Sources:

  • Byline: IVAN MORRIS POXTON Local Democracy Reporter ivan.morrispoxton@reachplc.com
  • Foreign Secretary David Lammy's statement
  • Ambassador Jenny's statement
  • The UK's Ambassador to Denmark's visit to Orsted's operations centre in Grimsby
  • The Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire's statement
  • North East Lincolnshire Council's leader, Cllr Philip Jackson's statement