A MULTI-MILLION-POUND package of measures aimed at boosting the region's economy was confirmed today under a new City Deal for Hull and the Humber.
Just under £10m will go towards a range of initiatives, including an expansion of college-based training programmes for people seeking jobs in the emerging renewable energy sector, tackling youth unemployment and extra support for businesses.
It aims to help create more than 4,000 jobs in offshore wind industries, another 3,400 construction jobs and help at least 1,100 unemployed young people into work.
Humber LEP chairman Lord Haskins said: "This is an important deal that is the first step in devolving more power to our local area.
"The influence we will gain over skills and the national pilot we will be running on youth unemployment will help us prepare local people for work and the jobs that will be created in our economy.
"The measures we will deliver to make developing around the Humber estuary a smoother process will go a long way to making our area more competitive."
A number of national pilot schemes will also be launched in the region looking at new ways of devolving key decision-making from Whitehall to local authority leaders.
It is hoped that will help cut through current Government red tape to speed up investment in major developments around the Humber estuary.
Colleges and training providers will also pioneer a payment-by- results scheme in which they will receive financial rewards for helping learners secure jobs or further education places leading to work.
A new cross-Humber leadership board featuring council leaders and members of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership will also be formed to oversee the City Deal programme.
In another national first, the board will be given binding decision- making powers on issues without the need to seek approval from each of the four councils around the Humber.
Confirmation of details of the City Deal programme comes after months of intensive negotiations between council and LEP officials, ministers and senior Whitehall civil servants.
Some of the new measures also mirror recommendations made by former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine on ways to boost regional economies.
City council leader Councillor Steve Brady said: "Following on so quickly from the award of UK City of Culture 2017 for Hull, reaching this agreement with the government is very good news for Hull and the Humber.
"This City Deal is driven by the need to accelerate economic development in the city and the sub-region, particularly in relation to the offshore wind industry."
Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of North-East Lincolnshire Council, said: "This is great news for the sub-region and great news for the local areas involved.
"I am confident that through this and other work, we can deliver a vibrant future for our communities and accelerate development in some of the Humber's key industries."
Cities minister Greg Clark was visiting Hull today to attend a signing ceremony to confirm the City Deal agreement.
Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "After the recent City of Culture success, the City Deal is further positive news for Hull and another piece of the jigsaw in place for our regeneration aspirations around green energy and skills for local youngsters. "We hope that Lord Heseltine's recommendations for devolving regeneration funding will now proceed on the back of this and that Siemens will soon make that final commitment to Hull."