East Midlands Freeport Creates 850 Jobs as Highland Green Freeport Plans 11,000 More

The East Midlands Freeport has created 862 jobs across distribution and transport sectors at East Midlands Airport and surrounding sites, forming part of a larger £9 billion project expected to generate 28,000 jobs over six years. This freeport encompasses strategic locations including Castle Donington airport and a rail-linked business park near Toyota’s Derbyshire plant, with companies like Maersk benefiting from incentives such as business rates relief and tax breaks. Separately, the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) in the Scottish Highlands is set to create over 11,000 jobs within 25 years, focusing on offshore renewable energy and attracting more than £6.5 billion in investment. ICFGF, backed by a memorandum of understanding signed by the UK and Scottish governments and Highland Council, offers tax incentives and commits to net zero targets and fair work practices. The green freeport includes six sites and is supported by public and private sector partnerships, aiming to become a major international hub for clean energy. Both freeports represent significant government efforts to drive economic growth, innovation, and sustainability in their respective regions.