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Posted on:
18th November, 2020

Prime Minister's green revolution plans reflect key issues from LEP Green Roundtables

In October Green business experts joined LEPs from across the country to discuss their ideas on delivering a green recovery with the Minister for Business and Industry, Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng MP,, the Minister for Science, Research & Innovation, Amanda Solloway and the Minister for Small Business, Paul Scully MP in a series of roundtables that focussed on green innovation.

The five roundtables were led by Local Enterprise Partnership chairs and included businesses from the following economic areas: East and West Midlands, Catalyst South, Northern Powerhouse 11, Oxford-Cambridge Arc & New Anglia, and South West.

Business and Industry Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said:

“These roundtables put a clear focus on green economic recovery and our ambition to achieve our net zero goals by 2050.

“These are an invaluable way for government, Local Enterprise Partnerships and business leaders to join together, share local expertise in green innovation across sectors and ensure the UK is on course to build back greener from the pandemic.”

The Green Roundtables followed on from the success of business discussions with Ministers in May and July. The Green Roundtables included business representatives from across the SME community within place-based sector strengths as follows:

  • Midlands: automotive, infrastructure, and construction.
  • Northern Powerhouse 11: science and research, including life sciences and health, and technology.
  • Oxford/Cambridge Arc and New Anglia: green technologies and clean growth.
  • Catalyst South: energy, including innovators and disruptors in the net zero space.
  • South West: enterprise, start-ups and microbusinesses in the net zero space.

Chair of the LEP Network, Mark Bretton, said:

“Green innovation is a central thread of our Rebuild and Recovery Deal that we have outlined in our CSR proposals which also included flexibility for a one year ‘fast track’ CSR. These roundtables underline that approach and LEP’s commitment to the government’s ambitions to Build Back Greener and help accelerate the country towards its net zero carbon goals.

“With an eye to the long term, LEPs are helping to drive that green innovation forward, creating the environment which will nurture new skills and generate the jobs upon which the green revolution will depend.”

ENDS

Contact:          Mike Dennehy

Phone:             07710 094 999

Email               mike@lepnetwork.net