Humber renewables champion Camilla’s calling came as green power became the new big thing
Born into a maritime family with great heritage on the Humber, Camilla Carlbom Flinn’s rise to prominence in the sector came at a time of incredible transformation. For while the energy transition has played out from the corridors of power to homes and industry, no clearer a picture has emerged than on the Energy Estuary itself. Immingham Dock, built principally to export coal, was walked across during its construction by her great grandfather as excavations completed on the 45-acre enclosure back in 1912, ahead of his eponymous ship's agency handling the very first vessel to enter the lock. Less than a century later the port was being repurposed to import the fossil fuel at scale, as power stations needed coal to keep the country’s lights on, while mines of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire closed. As the nation was weaned off the black stuff, renewables brought evolution across both banks. Carlbom Shipping - now Pentagon Marine, following its acquisition in 2022 - fulfils a critical role for those vessels chartered to help build the world’s leading wind farms, and has recently added the world’s largest jack-up vessel to a proud list. Instrumental to that change has been Camilla. Born in Cleethorpes, school holidays were punctuated with regular visits to the Immingham office, before she headed off to study international business management and broadcast journalism. An early media career took her to Paris, London and New York before returning to Lincolnshire with her young family in 2008. Her father Anthony’s sudden passing saw her take the helm of Carlbom Shipping as a new industry dawned, a move that was always in the making, but happened without warning. “I was always involved in the business from my teenage years, I’d always been around the office, I’d met clients and accompanied my father to business lunches and dinners,” she said. “Before I even came back to the Humber, I knew the team in the office very well, and quite a lot of the clients, but I only came back 17 years ago when my father passed away.” Carlbom had been founded in 1897 in Grimsby, expanding to Hull and then Immingham when the port was created. A proud history with enviable achievements throughout, Camilla said: “We handled the very first vessel to enter Immingham Dock, the SS Max, and it is wonderful that we are still here, alongside some of the same family companies still working on the river. That’s the lifeblood, the small, long-established companies with wonderful relations on the Humber. We have all grown in different ways. It is the basis of the maritime network that has also become the renewables network on the Humber.” Those first tentative steps into offshore wind have blossomed, and under Pentagon the business is now working from Aberdeen to Lowestoft, and thriving on the Humber, where so much has played out. “We’ve been very much involved in the construction of all the major wind farms off the East Coast in the last decade, so too operations and maintenance in Grimsby. “We’ve found a need for the traditional element of being a ship’s agent, but this has expanded to encompass warehousing, transport, customs, procurement - it really is a massive logistical enterprise to support the offshore wind network. That has been fantastic for so many companies around the Humber and beyond. You can see the investment it has brought, you see it in Grimsby, you see it in Hull and you see it in Immingham. The ports are busy, particularly when it comes to the construction phase. The scale of vessel movements is just incredible for the area.” The long-standing team and its independence made the transition a simpler one than it may have been for others. “We could be very agile,” Camilla said. “We could respond really quickly, and if we had an unusual request we could just get on and sort it, and that’s engrained in our service levels to our customers. Whatever they need, even if they might not know they need it, we have the knowledge and experience to deliver. “There are so many aspects of offshore wind, particularly in construction. It has been a sea-change in how we operate and the services we offer, and this transformation was essential, with all the coal-fired power stations being forced to close. It has been vital for the maritime sector.” Her crowning as Humber Renewables Champion was as much about her work outside of the agency as within. Camilla is a leading light in Humber Marine & Renewables, and, continuing another family role, is honorary consul for Sweden and Finland, while also sitting as chair of the Humber chapter of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Swedish Council in London, actively promoting business and cultural connections across the North Sea. She first became involved with the Humber Marine & Renewables, formed with the merger of Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership, in 2010. “I remember my first international trip to Denmark in 2010, taking in Esbjerg, looking at a Siemens blade factory over there. Now it is incredible to fast forward 15 years and we are doing that on the Humber, showcasing how to operate in offshore wind to the rest of the world. We have had visitors from China, South Korea, Taiwan and the US, as well as Europeans. We are now the posterchild for offshore wind - particularly in how you can use the assets of old fishing industries that have lost some of their power, and utilise the infrastructure the skills and talent, and just apply it into offshore wind. It is an incredible achievement.” And while now a senior figure on the board, she credits the organisation for supporting such growth. “For a small business to set foot in the offshore sector, Team Humber just opened so many doors,” she said. “You don’t meet people by cold calling, but at events Team Humber put on, it is fun. You meet interesting people, learn about their business, find common ground, and when you need a service or a sub-contractor you have that network. “We have done a lot of work for some major players in the sector, and on the Hornsea Two project (the latest completed by Orsted on the Humber) we had 125 sub-contractors. A lot of that supply chain was local, and it included hotels, taxi firms, bus companies catering, security, cleaning services - it is not just about vessels, it is machinery, repairs, bunkering, stevedores and the list goes well beyond maritime. That’s what offshore wind brought to the community.” Twinned with her journalistic training and experience, she has found incredible advantage in the trade organisation. “It has always brought great benefit to business, and the people involved have always been so welcoming, and it is nice to give back,” she said. “We are all voluntary directors, but what you give you get back, you get pushed out of your comfort zone, but why not? The more businesses we can support, the better it is for the region. “We should be shouting about what we can do on the Humber, we’re at the forefront of offshore wind, hydrogen, decarbonisation and - for being the highest CO2 emissions area in the UK - we’re also going to be leading the way with carbon capture. The investment into that side of the industrial decarbonisation plan is huge and kudos to the big players who are making it happen. We all have a responsibility, but it takes leadership, and the Humber is one of the leading areas.” Camilla quite rightly was recognised for her leading role too, but she modestly deflects the spotlight on to the emerging talent and innovation that the Humber Renewables Awards champion. Referencing the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, with Hull’s MMS involved in GT Wing’s new propulsion technology, Tidal Transit fitting electric engines to crew transfer vessels and the first charging points proposed at offshore farms, she said: “All will be normal in a decade’s time, but they are starting here. “That’s the joy of the Humber Renewables Awards; you find out about all these amazing innovations, and what they are doing, be it projects, community involvement or skills. A lot of it is at grass-roots level, and some is led by the big corporates, while offering game-changing experiences to our educational sector. It is amazing and all ties in, and it needs celebrating. “There are so many amazing people that do so much, not just within their businesses but outside of that. It was a surprise to hear my name, and I was quite unprepared for it. I really was so honoured because I know what people do for their communities, and - particularly when you have been a judge – you know about so many different companies and different people, who you admire. To then to be picked out and have that recognition was really touching. It is very special as there are some amazing people who have been Humber Renewables Champion in the past. “It was wonderful, but then you have to double-up your efforts, make sure you earn the title until the honour passes on to the next recipient!” Could that be you? Entries are now being sought for all open categories, with a deadline of Friday, March 14. The Humber Renewables Awards dinner is the finale to Offshore Wind Connections 2025, taking place at Hull’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on May 1. Orsted, Rix Renewables and RWE are supporting, with Business Live as media partner. Further opportunities for sponsorship are still available. For more information, or tickets to the event, visit www.humber-renewables.com or email awards@humber-renewables.com. This category will recognise those who have spotted an opportunity in the renewables market. The winner will be able to demonstrate fast growth, a healthy profit and a solid plan for the future. It could be a company set up solely to work in green energy or a traditional business which has branched out. One of the reasons Siemens Gamesa decided to invest in Hull was because of the great engineering and maritime infrastructure the Humber already has. Enter here . Last year’s winner: River Energy and Renewables Ltd Running a major company is tough in any field but in an evolving sector like renewable energy it has complexities beyond most. Businesses have to be instantly adaptable, on top of the latest technology and ready to make the most of opportunities offered by the Government’s regularly updating green agenda. This award’s winner will be a regional firm with at least 50 employees and bold ambitions to become even bigger. Judges will be looking at past financial performance and recruitment in the past year. Enter here . Last year’s winner: RWE This prize is for the game-changers that are making it happen. Judges will be looking for a winning project that produces clean power, is built to the highest of standards and encapsulates the area’s expertise. The category is open to schemes of any scale, from multi-million pound developments to micro-generation programmes. It could be won by a firm focused on renewables or a company, public sector organisation or educational establishment which has done its bit to reduce our carbon footprint. Enter here . Last year’s winner: Tidal Transit Multinational green energy companies may have their eyes on the region and feet on the ground but success in bringing them here means nothing if they cannot find qualified employees. Getting the training right for any potential workforce is vital and this award will celebrate those organisations which have done most to create a much-needed skills base. The category is open to employers, specialist centres and education providers. Enter here . Last year’s winner: Hull College This category will reward the educators who have done most to promote the value of clean power and understand the opportunities it brings. It could be as part of an energy qualification or learning programme run by a university of college, or a one-off project at a primary or secondary school. Entries will be able to demonstrate what the aims of the project were, how they were achieved and any feedback from students. Submissions may also include details of whether, and how, the project was supported by industry. Enter here . This award is returning after a break in 2024. Green energy can be cheaper than its fossil fuel equivalents and this is down to innovation. This award will reward firms of any size that go out of their way to be more efficient and are not afraid to come up with novel approaches. Judges will be looking to see how innovation has made a real difference. That could be developing a different business model, refining existing technology to make it leaner and more effective, or introducing a new solution. This award is not just open to energy firms. Companies in the recycling sphere, or those reducing consumption are welcome, as are businesses where inventive methods have seen carbon footprints reduced. Enter here . This award is also returning after a break in 2024. This category will recognise a renewable energy project that has the community at its heart. This could either be through raising public awareness of renewable energy needs or involving a local community in a project. Or this could be a renewables project driven by a local community or organisation, or one that is to the benefit of one. Going the extra mile in support of major initiatives is welcome too, ensuring the Humber and its hinterland reaps what it deserves from hosting such industrial endeavour. Enter here . Last year’s winner: Projekt Renewable Humber Renewables Woman of the Year This award aims to recognise and celebrate women working in the energy sector who go above and beyond business-as-usual. This may be someone who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, has contributed significantly to the expansion and improvement of the power sector or it could be a young role model who is destined to shape the future of renewable energy, having been acclaimed by peers or the wider industry. Enter here . Last year’s winner: Lauren Little, Orsted / Humber Offshore Wind Industrial Cluster Green collar jobs are the envy of many, providing a clear contribution to a better world, with highly skilled on-task learning the backbone of career starts. It is an industry at the heart of levelling-up and perceived vocational and academic differences were swept away on an early tide when it came to getting ahead in renewables. We want to celebrate the success of those engaged in an apprenticeship programme. Enter here . Last year’s winner: Ryah Russell The winner of this award will have a passionate focus on promoting the renewables industry in this region. It could be an individual, public sector body or company - the key is a real focus on making the Humber the Energy Estuary. They will have tirelessly campaigned to promote green power. A worthy winner would be anyone who has helped attract new investment, encouraged Government support of the ambition or paved the way for more jobs. It could also be an organisation or person who has ensured the reputation stretches beyond the region. Judges will be looking for candidates whose aim was not just to further their own business, but to create opportunities for all. This is a special award, bestowed by the panel. Last year’s winner: Camilla Carlbom Flinn, Pentagon Marine Ltd / HM&R ENDS For further information, photography or interviews, please contact Dave Laister at Fred Marketing on 01482 227227 / 07730 639525 or email dave.laister@reachplc.com About Humber Marine & Renewables
New £1m fund backing entrepreneurship in North Wales
Business support venture Ideas has launched a new £1m fund to back early stage entrepreneurship in North Wales. Founded by Nick Pritchard, Fran James, and Dylan Jones-Evans, Ideas said its goal is to create a dynamic community of entrepreneurs, investors and stakeholders who share a vision of building a stronger and more innovative economy. Its latest venture is called Ideas Invest. The new fund comes as Ideas has exchanged contracts with Conwy County Borough Council on a 250-year lease for the Bodlondeb site in Conwy. This historic building will be transformed into a cornerstone for entrepreneurship in the region, offering free space and support for new businesses - as well as financial backing from the new fund. Additionally, Ideas has also acquired the Old Post Office in Bangor, which will be converted into another business hub, According to Prof Dylan Jones-Evans, the founder of Fast Growth 50, supporting new businesses is vital to North Wales' economic future, driving innovation, job creation, and investment. He said: "Entrepreneurship has the power to transform communities and economies, and with Ideas Invest, we want to give ambitious founders the opportunity to develop and scale their businesses right here in North Wales. Start-ups and scale-ups play a key role in revitalising communities, retaining talent, and fostering economic resilience. "By providing the right support and networks, we believe that North Wales can unlock its potential as a leading hub for business growth and long-term prosperity." As the driving force behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards , Ms James believes that access to a strong network of business leaders, investors, and mentors will be a crucial part of Ideas Invest. She said: "Over the last few years, we've built an incredible community of founders, investors, and business leaders who are passionate about supporting entrepreneurship. "With Ideas Invest, we're bringing this network to North Wales, creating opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs to access funding, mentorship, and the connections they need to succeed. This is more than just investment - it's about building a thriving ecosystem where businesses can launch, scale, and make a real impact." Serial entrepreneur and investor Mr Pritchard, said: "With Ideas Invest and the transformation of Bangor and Conwy into entrepreneurial hubs, we are creating a movement that will drive business growth and innovation in North Wales. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur with a great idea, an investor looking to back the next generation of businesses, a mentor eager to support new founders, or a company seeking a space to grow, now is the time to get involved.
UK house prices surged to a record high in January ahead of stamp duty changes
New figures reveal that the average UK house price reached a record £299,138 in January, just months before the first-time buyer stamp duty relief is set to end in April. House prices increased by 0.7% month on month and by 3% year on year, with London maintaining the highest average house price at £548,288, noting a 2.8% rise year on year, as reported by City AM. "Affordability is still a challenge for many would-be buyers, but the market’s resilience is noteworthy," commented Amanda Bryden, Halifax's Head of Mortgages. Bryden predicts mortgage rates will "hover" between 4% and 5% in 2025. House prices continue to be elevated against average earnings; the first-time buyer (FTB) house price to earnings ratio was at 5.0 at the end of 2024, significantly exceeding the long-term average of 3.9. However, Braden highlighted there is still "strong demand for new mortgages and growth in lending". "With a stamp duty increase looming, some of this demand may have come from first-time buyers eager to complete transactions before the end of March," she added. After March 31, first-time buyers will be subject to the same stamp duty rates as other buyers. Tomer Aboody, director of MT Finance, suggested that the market isn't as robust as the figures imply, stating: "While the numbers suggest a confident market, actual growth in prices is minimal as buyers face affordability challenges." Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent and former RICS residential chairman, commented on the property market's robustness: "The full impact of the Budget has yet to be factored in, so a true indication of where we are would be around spring, when the stamp duty holiday ends." He also noted that the firm prices can't solely be attributed to a shortage of properties; demand plays an equally significant role, saying, "On the ground, recent price resilience has been just as much to do with higher demand as much as insufficient and appropriate stock in more popular areas." Continuing with the UK’s regional property market analysis, Northern Ireland currently boasts the strongest annual property price growth at 5.9 per cent. In Wales, house prices saw a 3.6 per cent increase compared to the previous year, with the average property price now standing at £227,397.
Chancellor urged to grant BP and Shell tax breaks amid Donald Trump's trade war
Oil giants such as BP and Shell, who operate in the North Sea, should be given significant tax breaks to help protect the UK against Donald Trump’s escalating trade war, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been advised. The Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is urging the UK government to reduce the 78 per cent tax burden on North Sea oil and gas producers, which also includes billionaire Sir Jim Radcliffe’s Ineos Group, as reported by City AM. The lobby group believes this would be a "key first step towards greater domestic energy security", especially with US President Donald Trump announcing plans to impose import tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Trump has also threatened substantial levies on trade with the European Union. The chamber of commerce referenced analysts’ predictions that oil prices could drop if a global trade war impacts demand. The Energy Profits Levy (EPL), a windfall tax imposed on energy production, is in place until 2023. It adds a 38 per cent additional tax rate on oil and gas production, on top of corporation tax at 30 per cent and the 10 per cent supplementary charge. The chamber argues that the tax burden no longer needs to be as high, with "price conditions long having returned to normal levels". The organisation also noted that "UK oil production is now at an all-time low", and gas production is near record lows. Russell Borthwick, the chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, has criticised the UK's response to the 2022 global energy crisis, stating: "The UK’s response to a global energy crisis in 2022 ran contrary to all good sense." He added: "Instead of bolstering domestic supply, enabling production from the North Sea and attracting new investment into the North Sea we have become increasingly reliant upon imports." Borthwick also noted that this approach had unsettled the energy sector and its supply chain, undermining confidence at a crucial time for the transition to net zero. He warned: "With the world on the brink of a trade war, we cannot afford to repeat these mistakes." Borthwick pointed out that the UK is already heavily dependent on imported gas from Norway and LNG shipped from the USA to meet our demands. He cautioned: "Any fluctuations in the price of oil and gas could be very damaging in a world where returns on production from the North Sea are already marginal." Borthwick concluded by suggesting that the smart response would be to remove the EPL sooner rather than later – protecting our domestic energy sector and ensuring we’re not putting the UK economy at a significant disadvantage in an increasingly uncertain global context. In related news, last month City AM reported how Shell paid out more than £18.7bn to shareholders in 2024 while cutting spending on renewable energy. The FTSE 100 giant reported a dip in earnings from £23bn in 2023 to £19.1bn in 2024 amid weaker oil prices and lower demand for fossil fuels. Despite a decrease in earnings, Shell announced that it had increased dividends by four per cent in the fourth quarter and unveiled a £2.8bn share buyback scheme, which it anticipates to be completed by its first quarter results for 2025. In the same period, BP revealed plans to cut thousands of jobs across its global workforce as part of cost-cutting measures and efforts to boost its share price.
Sheffield's One Health Group looks to create surgical hub through £8m fundraise
Sheffield healthcare company One Health Group is looking to raise £8m to fund the creation of its first surgical hub amid a move to the AIM market. The firm, a leading independent surgical services provider to the NHS has announced a conditional placing to raise a minimum of £7m, an open offer to qualifying shareholders to raise up to £500,000, and a retail offer to raise up to £500,000. The firm is also proposing to cancel trading on the AQSE Growth Market and admission to AIM. In an announcement to the market, it said proceeds would be used primarily to fund the group’s first owned surgical hub through to operation, a project which is expected to cost between £8m and £9m. The group expects the hub to be operational within one year of construction starting and deliver between £6m and £9m in annual revenues, while also being earnings enhancing in its first full year of operation. Planning permission for the surgical hub is expected to be submitted soon. The placing to raise a minimum of £7m consists of an issue of new ordinary shares to raise £5.2m, and the sale of existing ordinary shares held by certain directors and the company’s EBT Trustee to raise at least £1.8m. The capital raising is conditional upon admission of the Enlarged Share Capital to trading on AIM, cancellation of trading on the AQSE Growth Market and the passing of the Resolutions at the General Meeting. In addition, the company intends to launch an offering to both new and existing retail shareholders in the United Kingdom of up to 277,777 new ordinary shares through the retail offer. The announcement says: “The board considers admission to be in the best interests of the company and its shareholders given the growing scale of the business. The board believe AIM is a more appropriate market for the company and will enable it to attract a wider pool of investors, provide greater access to capital for growth and, over time, improve liquidity in the ordinary shares.” Its proposed move from the AQSE Growth Market to AIM are both conditional on completion of the placing and the open offer, and the passing of the resolutions at a general meeting. Should everything go ahead, admission to AIM is expected to take place on March 20.
Welsh Government invests £8m into tidal project
The Welsh Government has invested in Europe's largest sanctioned tidal energy project. The Morlais tidal scheme, managed by social enterprise Menter Môn from Ynys Môn, is expected to be 2026. To ensure the project's momentum, the Welsh Government has invested £8m for a 13.6% equity stake. Morlais has also received £31m in European funding alongside investment from the Crown Estate, and it anticipates additional finance from the North Wales Growth Deal. With enough capacity to power up to 180,000 typical Welsh households, the Anglesey site epitomises innovation with its unique 'plug and play' approach, providing tidal energy developers with streamlined scalability to produce clean electricity cost-effectively. Funds from the Welsh Government will advance the Cydnerth phase which includes fortifying the grid connection at Parc Cybi, Holyhead. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, commented: "We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies and we're off to a good start on several fronts. Our investment will support Menter Môn Morlais to scale up capacity, and develop an industrial cluster for tidal energy and innovation in North Wales, whilst delivering jobs and growth through its pioneering technology, keeping the value local." "This will further benefit clean energy suppliers of all sizes and position Wales at the forefront of the energy transition." Dafydd Gruffydd, managing Ddrector of Menter Môn, expressed strong support for the new developments: "We welcome the Minister's announcement, which strengthens our ability to deliver clean energy and local jobs through the Morlais project. This funding supports our vision to position North Wales as a leader in tidal energy innovation, creating opportunities for growth and collaboration across the region."