Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 47 ] In September 2020, the Board set out six key principles for a freeport bid, setting the direction and making clear to any bidders the outcomes that should arise from a Thames Freeport. These principles centred around economy, investment, innovation, environment, regeneration and community. The Board made clear that the last principle was the most important. It stated that the freeport proposal must show how the bidder will work with local communities to support access to training, how they will raise awareness of opportunities and aspiration, and how this will have a positive impact on a range of outcomes for local communities. The bid needed to align with the Board’s mission to deliver Estuary-wide benefits that support the levelling- up agenda and improve the lives of people in the Estuary. From vision to action: the Thames Estuary Growth Board launched the next iteration of The Green Blue, ‘The Green Blue Workplan’ in July 2021, four months after the announcement of the Thames as a freeport location. The workplan progresses the Board’s ambitions, detailing practical steps on realising its vision and the indicators on measuring success. It is separated into four workstreams: Build Back Better, Net Zero, Places and Spaces, and Accelerating Investment. The freeport is a key part of ‘Build Back Better’. In the next phase, working with the Freeport Board, Kate will connect and communicate with stakeholders: residents, businesses, investors and government. Ultimately, she will help to hold the Thames Freeport to account to ensure the Estuary-wide benefits and aspirations from the freeport submission are achieved. The workplan’s success will be judged on social, economic, commercial and environmental impact. The freeport is already proving its worth in each of these areas, catalysing change and igniting transformation that benefits people, businesses and the environment. By selecting the Thames as a location for a freeport, the Government has shown belief in the region and its potential, and this has a knock-on effect on the social wellbeing of Estuary communities. Local residents are reawakened to the potential of the area as they see the opportunities on their doorstep. A freeport is a magnet for business and investment, and the economic Beautiful day across the Estuary Elvis & Kresse are one of the Estuary Visionaries, an initiative celebrating and supporting businesses in the region that practice good green growth. The company uses reclaimed materials to create beautiful products The freeport is already proving its worth, catalysing change and igniting transformation that benefits people, businesses and the environment