Enabling clean growth and prosperity in the coming years.
Low Carbon and Energy Technologies in our area
The low carbon sector is one of the region’s key areas of strength that can enable clean growth and prosperity in the coming years. By focusing on opportunities to boost the growth and productivity of low-carbon businesses, Greater Birmingham, and the wider West Midlands, can boost both domestic and foreign inward investment, scale-up its export potential and ultimately create jobs and improve quality of life. The sector already makes a significant contribution to the region’s economy, contributing £3.3bn GVA across the WMCA, and is forecast to dramatically increase.
The Low Carbon Sector Action Plan defines low carbon technology sector as ‘businesses and organisations who are currently located wholly or in part in the West Midlands or are planning to relocate to the region, and who provide or intend to provide solutions and services necessary to support the transition towards a low carbon economy’. It incorporates a large proportion of the energy system which is leading the low carbon transition, and increasing proportions of the transport/automotive and construction/housing sectors.
Low Carbon Sector Action Plan
The GBSLEP has been assigned the Low Carbon and Environmental Sector as one of its key sectors to deliver on under the region's Local Industry Strategy.
To this end, the GBSLEP has developed and is the process of refining the region’s first Low Carbon and Environmental Technologies Action Plan that aims to ensure the low-carbon businesses in the region are well-placed to grow during the transition to net zero and recovery from Covid-19.
Our Impact
- Developing the £1.2 million Clean Growth Programme for businesses to get help with cutting energy costs and becoming more sustainable.
- Launching the Low Carbon and Circular Economy Fund – £245,000 was made available to support low-carbon and innovative projects.
- Funding 100 free licences for 12-month access to Zellar – a new sustainability platform to help businesses with decarbonisation. To date, 60 businesses have signed up.
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Convening a Low Carbon Steering Group to gather intelligence and insight to help policy development.
Industry Engagement
The implementation of the Low Carbon and Environmental Technologies Action Plan is overseen by the Low Carbon Steering Group, set-up and managed by the GBSLEP. The Steering Group meets quarterly and contains members from a range of small, medium and large organisations, all based in the West Midlands and working within the low-carbon space.
For an overview of live funding opportunities for the LCET sector, please visit SWM and IAWM.
Find out how GBSLEP can support businesses on their sustainability journey.
Click here to view Funding Calls
Click here to View GBSLEP Growth Hub Sustainability Services.
To hear more about the work GBSLEP is doing for the sector, please contact hello@gbslep.co.uk