Over 20 regions of the UK have submitted their preliminary bids to host the Government’s Green Investment Bank when it is formed in Spring this year. Vince Cable said recently on the BIS website;

There is a great opportunity for British businesses to lead the transition to a green economy and stake a claim on a sector that has massive potential for growth. I want to set up the Bank as soon as possible, so it can start accelerating investments in these key sectors and help British companies take advantage of these opportunities. Setting out the priorities for the Bank and establishing UK Green Investments for April 2012 are a major step forward.

It was great to see Stephen Catchpole from Tees Valley Unlimited on the Politics Show keeping the profile of the area high on central government’s agenda.   

So, how does the Tees Valley Unlimited bid look?  

Here are the Government’s search criteria – we think we’re right up their street.  The location of the GIB must;

• Be able to recruit and retain the specialist staff needed to run the organisation.

The Tess Valley is already a hot bed for public sector organisations with a critical ‘cluster’ allowing for career progression of senior executives through these organisations. The quality of life in the Tees Valley is unparalleled – whether you walk, cycle or run, you’re going to love our hills, rivers and coast. There are great houses and the schools are excellent.

• Enable the GIB to work closely with other parties involved in deals as well as other investment bodies, project developers and green technology providers.

The North East of England is already home to more specialist renewables technology companies than any other region of the UK. We have the specialist manufacturing expertise born out of our industrial heritage. Tees Valley has a strong spirit of entrepreneurship reaching back to George Stephenson and the creation of the railways.

• Be in a location that provides good value for money, to ensure that the GIB is cost effective.

What can we say,  The Tees Valley can’t be beaten on price! Marchday’s own Lingfield Point, Darlington is already home to over 50 companies, many of them public sector organisations, employing 2000 staff. This award winning business community has been created from a recycled 1950′s wool factory and is the very embodiment of the Government’s vision for a sustainable mixed community. We succeed because we provide unrivalled value for money.

We’ve been saying this for some time.

Back in 2010, John appeared on Sky News calling for the GIB to come to the North East. At the time John said;

The traditional skills necessary for heavy industry, once so common in the region are transferable to the manufacturing of green technologies such as wind and wave turbines. The North East is already home to a cluster of world leading sustainable technology companies. We think the Government should show its confidence in the region and bring the ‘green’ money men to sit alongside the innovators. That way all the components would be in place to allow the North East to reinvent itself.

We think that argument is still valid.

You can watch John’s interview on Sky News below:

So, go on Mr Cable, make our day ….. please!