Region is ‘hotspot’ for net zero jobs, says CBI

YORKSHIRE is outperforming London and the South East as a ‘hotspot’ for net zero jobs and economic activity, a new report by CBI Economics for the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit.

South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire rank fourth nationally, net zero businesses in constituencies such as Rother Valley amounting to £1.25bn, which is 5.9 per cent of the area’s economy. Leeds and surrounding areas of West Yorkshire are ranked eighth nationally, with net zero-related activities such as renewable energy, low-emission vehicles and low-carbon heating now making up £1.68bn of the economy – around 4.7 per cent of the total. This includes nearly 17,500 people in full-time employment in the net zero economy, a total of 3.6 per cent of the county’s jobs.

The net zero economy in the Humber, meanwhile, is worth over £500m (4.1 per cent of the region’s economy). In contrast, only 3.1 per cent of London’s economy is made up of net zero-related activities.

Jim Erskine, head of commercial at Magtec, a leading manufacturer of drive trains for electric vehicles based in Rotherham, said: “The Yorkshire and Humber region has always been at the forefront of technical evolution and now is no exception. Magtec has been leading the charge to change how we all power our vehicles and especially HGVs and buses as they are responsible for high levels of pollution.

“Couple Magtec’s in house design and manufacturing capability with its strong relationships with local business and RTOs such as AMRC in Sheffield and the future looks very bright for the region. A joinedup plan for establishing the region as the place to be for net zero technology business looking to improve all our futures is critical.”

Peter Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Knaresborough-based Harmony Energy, which last November “energised” Europe’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) by MW/H in Pillswood, East Yorkshire, said: “Yorkshire is a superb region for renewable energy projects, be it solar, wind or BESSs. It has plenty of space and a population of five million people, and unlike the industries we don’t need financial support from the Government to make it happen.”