HARWICH’S Freeport East and the University of Essex are hosting a joint event next week to highlight opportunities for local businesses and organisations.

Freeport East, based in Harwich and Felixstowe, is one of 12 zones with little or no taxes across the country designed to encourage economic growth.

Speakers will include people from Freeport East, University of Essex, the German RWE, and Haltermann Carless, and there are already 50 attendees from local businesses signed up.

This event follows a recent report by sector expert Opergy Group, which was commissioned through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and overseen by the University of Essex and Freeport East.

The report states the steps needs to support Harwich’s progress to becoming a national leader in clean energy, including the potential for a new multi-million-pound innovation hub.

Last month, Freeport East received £1.44 million from Innovate UK and a similar sum from Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The funding will support the drive to increase decarbonisation in the maritime sector focusing on green hydrogen storage and propulsion technologies.

The event will take place from 10am to 1pm on July 17 at the Waterfront in Harwich and to book a free ticket or share your views visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-harwichs-innovation-cluster-tickets-924288520847.