Calderdale’s burgeoning green sector brought in £725m to the region’s economy in just one year and is set for a growth explosion – a new report reveals today.
And today the report authors urged businesses to “join the decarbonisation revolution” and snap up free expert support with growth in the sector predicted to soar.
The newly published West Yorkshire Green Technologies & Services Sector Mapping(external link) report reveals the region’s Green Technologies and Services (GTS) sector, ranging from Wind to Carbon Finance, is collectively valued at £8.1 billion and expected to grow to £11.1 billion by 2026 – a 37% rise.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
The report was produced by Green Economy(external link). Part of The Growth Company, it helps tradespeople, businesses and local authorities deliver their transition to Net Zero by providing expert support, training and access to local sales opportunities as well as analysing and developing the local green supply chain.
Today’s report shows in Calderdale, the GTS sector contributed £725m to the borough’s economy in 2022/23 with over 260 businesses and more than 4,700 employees.
The upward growth trajectory is set to continue with sales projected to increase to 8.9% to 2023/24 and 12.8% in 2025/26.
Further data show sub-sectors including Wind, Building Technologies, Carbon Finance, Alternative Fuels, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, and Geothermal collectively represent 63% of Calderdale’s GTS sector sales in 2022/23.
The report adds that Building Technologies, Wind, Alternative Fuels, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, and Geothermal lead in employment, constituted 56% of Calderdale’s GTS sector activity (they have a product or service in this sub-sector) in 2022/2023.
Analysis by Green Economy found the GTS sector growth was due to a combination of factors. These include demand being stimulated by legislative drivers such as a proposed ban on petrol cars and a national push to retrofit and make homes more energy efficient, to local programmes funded by WYCA and centrally-funded initiatives like the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund requiring local providers of green technology.
Amid the hugely positive findings and projections in the report, Green Economy officials urged those helping spearhead the region’s green ambitions to utilise the expert and free support available to grow their businesses.
The call to action comes as the report shows there is an opportunity to create more high-quality local jobs in the region with employment in West Yorkshire’s GTS sector standing at 53,214 in 2022/23 – just 2.1% of the county’s workforce – compared to 5.9% for England.
Vicky Wilding, Green Economy’s Green Tech and Services Lead, said:
“This report should leave nobody in doubt over the enormous contribution the green tech and services sector makes to Calderdale and West Yorkshire’s economy and jobs market.
“But there is a big opportunity for people to support the net zero transition and build on this success. Anyone working in the green technology and services supply chain in Calderdale can access free WYCA-funded support from Green Economy to grow their business. We encourage anybody working in the green tech supply chain, or those looking to diversify to join our network and build on the success outlined in the report, to create even more high-quality local jobs.”
Green Economy helps local firms grow or diversify into the sector with its team of consultants helping installers, tradespeople and other suppliers receive free specialist advice and access to market intelligence, peer networking and training with traders able to explore new sales opportunities with a free profile on their Marketplace – a business directory of local green technology suppliers.
It simultaneously helps green technologies and services businesses grow by offering expert support to develop robust and competitive net zero strategies.
A new training voucher scheme(external link) has also been launched to upskill the local sector to retrofit existing properties whilst ensuring that it can take advantage of market opportunities which arise as Calderdale transitions to net zero. Businesses can apply to part fund training courses in heat pump, solar PV and battery storage installation and maintenance, or to secure MCS certification.
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, said:
“Taking climate action is a priority in Calderdale, and it’s something we can all do together. We’ve gone through devastating floods and have an ambitious borough-wide plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2038. The green economy is a key part of Calderdale’s Climate Action Plan. Through this, we’re making sure businesses can access support, such as the help available from Green Economy, to cut carbon and make an impact.”
Traders, companies, and local authorities seeking decarbonisation support can find more details here(external link).