Former Grimsby MP Melanie Onn has taken a key regional role in renewables.
Having served as deputy chief executive of national trade body Renewable UK after being beaten by Lia Nici in the 2019 General Election, she has returned to the green industry in the recently funded role of strategic advisor with Humber Marine and Renewables. She will, however, be hoping it is a fairly short tenure, with a return to Westminster sought when the country next goes to the polls.
That ambition led to her stepping down from the previous role, with government lobbying a key element. For now she will help drive Humber Marine and Renewables on in a new era, having supported the launch the merged entity of Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership back in 2022.
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Chair of Humber Marine and Renewables, Iain Butterworth, said: “HM&R has a clear set of objectives that it wants to achieve, including expanding its membership offering and coverage all the way from northern Lincolnshire up through the boundaries of North Yorkshire. Melanie has been brought in to support implementing those objectives using her knowledge of the region and industry, and experience of the political arena.
“HM&R has a lot of experienced voices in the marine sector and offshore sectors and we are keen to continue to build our own understanding of the continuing opportunities in renewables, particularly in the context of a decarbonised Humber by 2050 which is why Melanie is a great fit.
“We are delighted to have her on board and look forward to working with her in the coming months.”
The part time role has been funded through East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and had been outlined at a recent ‘new term’ launch. One of her last roles as an MP was to officially open Orsted’s £14 million East Coast Hub at Port of Grimsby, while in the Renewable UK role she was a familiar face at the Offshore Wind Connections Humber conference, while also picking up the Humber Renewables Champion accolade in 2022.
Ms Onn said: “I worked with HM&R when they were still Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership, and have continued to have strong links over the past four years. I am really pleased to be working closely with them, and keen to get started on the delivery of their objectives.
“My priorities are to make sure that our marine and renewable sectors are heard regionally and nationally, promote the area as a great place to do business, and one that leads the way towards decarbonisation.”
Ms Onn, who succeeded Austin Mitchell in 2015 – and in doing so became Grimsby’s first female MP – is looking to win back her seat in Westminster. Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate is eyeing what would be a ‘re-shaped’ constituency of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, as boundary changes take effect. Ms Nici will seek to defend the large majority won on the back of Boris Johnson’s Brexit manifesto, with Mr Vickers re-aligning slightly to Brigg and Immingham.
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber
