New impact report highlights business and tourism achievements across East Yorkshire

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has published its 2025-26 Impact Report, which shows how Invest East Yorkshire and Visit East Yorkshire have supported over 1,100 businesses, including £52 million in contracts secured.

Invest East Yorkshire’s business centres have also obtained a 94% occupancy rate, while providing 214 enterprises with in-depth ongoing support.

Grants were awarded to 91 local businesses, supporting business projects worth £1.59m.

A total of 65 new jobs were created, with almost half going to people aged 16 to 29. A further 47 new businesses were started, more than twice the target.

The report features a Bridlington coffee business that grew from a one-person mobile unit into an employer, a Brough bakery whose grant-funded expansion led to a Great Taste gold award, and a Goole flooring company where one grant helped unlock £2.6m in new contracts.

They also helped facilitate inward investment, such as planning approvals at Freeport Goole, including for Metsä Tissue and 500,000 square feet of new industrial space.

In addition, LanzaTech announced a £600m sustainable aviation fuel facility at Saltend Chemicals Park, while construction began on the £45m Howden Relief Road.

The team also promoted the area’s investment opportunities at MIPIM in Cannes and the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, working with Hull City Council and Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The council’s network of nine business centres, comprising 223 offices and workshops from Bridlington to Goole, obtained a 94% occupancy rate, with 46 new businesses moving into the centres.

Visit East Yorkshire, the region’s destination brand, delivered or supported more than 40 events. This included the Beverley Festival of Christmas with attracted 56,000 visitors, as well as the Race the Waves on Bridlington beach which was worth £1.4m to the local economy.

Across the programme, events generated £58 for every £1 invested and £8.5m for the visitor economy. A further 91 businesses signed up as tourism partners.

Councillor Anne Handley, East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader, said: “We’re proud to play our role in encouraging investment and tourism, supporting local businesses and encouraging investment into the East Riding.  It’s great to see the business support team exceed their targets and help support thriving communities in our region.”

The full Impact Report, including case studies, films, and detailed figures, is available at:

business-investment-tourism-services.netlify.app

Author: tracey