The launch of manufacturing at thenew Siemens wind turbine plant in Hull is important for the health of the East Yorkshire economy.

It will employ up to 1,000 people by the end of 2017 among them "former supermarket workers, aerospace industry experts on second careers and builders who learned fibreglass skills locally from fitting bathrooms and making caravan parts.' What a terrific example to use of occupational mobility!

Most of the blades currently under construction are intended for the North Sea - Britain has more offshore wind power than any country in the world. But the long term plan is for Siemens to use their new manufacturing base for exporting to the Netherlands and other countries looking to expand their renewable wind power capacity.