Speaking at the Welsh Labour reception, during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Protium CEO Chris Jackson argued that hundreds of SMEs – not just large corporations – will deliver economic growth across the UK’s regions, and that government recognition is what helps them win the trust to do it.
In his first week in office, the Prime Minister pledged to deliver “good growth in every postcode … across the whole of the UK”. [GOV.UK, 23 July 2026] Large companies will play their part, Jackson told the audience, but “it’s actually hundreds of SMEs like Protium that are also going to drive economic growth in every region.”
Rooted in South Wales
Protium’s Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 2 green hydrogen plants in Port Talbot are staffed primarily by local apprentices, contractors, technicians, and former Tata Steel workers who have been upskilled to work on future-forward green engineering projects. Operating within a hyper-local supply chain bounded by a 30 km radius, the projects place a firm emphasis on keeping region-built expertise embedded in the community.
A footprint across the UK
Beyond Wales, Protium is developing projects in the Highlands to decarbonise public sites, such as hospitals and schools, that currently rely on diesel for energy security. In Teesside, the focus is on sovereign green fuels, including e-SAF (synthetic sustainable aviation fuel), which Jackson noted would reduce the UK’s reliance on imported jet fuel while enhancing domestic energy resilience and security.
Trust: the hardest thing for an SME to win
At the heart of Jackson’s speech was trust. “Without trust, you cannot do anything,” he said. For an SME introducing novel technology, persuading partners to take a chance is often the biggest hurdle. Protium’s progress has depended on forward-thinking partners willing to do exactly that—including Wales & West Utilities, Panasonic, CaetanoBus, and local councils.
“Protium’s Pioneer 2 shows that the transition to greener industry isn’t just something we talk about; it’s happening here in Neath Port Talbot, creating skilled jobs, supporting local businesses and helping experienced workers, including former Tata Steel employees, build careers in the industries of the future”.
— Cllr Joshua Tuck, Neath Port Talbot Council
Recognition opens doors
Jackson argued that a government’s most powerful asset is not its balance sheet, but its voice: when government speaks, people listen. Government trade bodies and regional representation offices can introduce growing businesses to partners they could not otherwise have reached. As His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner noted when backing Protium’s credentials to potential commercial partners: “You might not have heard of these guys, but we know who they are. You should meet them.”
Where there is official recognition and endorsement, trust follows.
Committed to the UK
Jackson closed with Protium’s commitment to continue investing across the country: creating jobs in the Highlands, advancing sovereign fuel projects in Teesside, and delivering Magor Net Zero in South Wales.
“Regardless of how difficult it gets,” he concluded, “we want to make the UK richer, better, stronger, more resilient.”
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And read more about upcoming projects here: https://protium.green/
About Protium
Protium is one of the UK’s leading green hydrogen companies. We make green hydrogen simple for customers by providing end-to-end solutions that help businesses decarbonise reliably, affordably, and safely, replacing fossil fuels across various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, industrial, and transport.
By pioneering the scale-up and adoption of green hydrogen and its derivatives in the UK, Protium delivers practical hydrogen solutions that work today. Our capabilities span production, distribution, and on-site deployment, supported by expert guidance from technical services to commercial development to enable a confident transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Protium’s growing national portfolio spans a planned network of three production sites and four distribution hubs. Operational assets include the flagship Pioneer 2 facility in Wales and the South Coast Hydrogen Hub in Dorset, complemented by key growth projects such as the newly planning-approved Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility in Scotland and project hubs in South Teesside.
Sources:
(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-pledges-growth-in-every-postcode-across-whole-of-uk-as-he-visits-scotland)