Leeds City Region open for green business

Businesses attending a major green conference will hear about opportunities to grab their slice of the multi-trillion pound global low carbon market.

The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has called upon those attending today’s Base Leeds City Region event to play their part in making the region a green economic powerhouse.

Hosted by the University of Bradford, the event brings together the public and private sectors to collaborate on practical, innovative solutions that will allow businesses to benefit from the world-wide transition to a low carbon economy, projected to be worth £4 trillion by 2016.

Throughout the one-day event, members of the Leeds City Region LEP are delivering keynote speeches, hosting breakout session and fringe events aimed at making sure the right infrastructure and policies are in place to allow the low carbon economy to grow.

Chair of the Leeds City Region LEP, Neil McLean said:

“Leeds City Region has the right assets, skills and knowledge for low carbon business to be big business in our region.

“We’re rapidly moving towards a situation where low carbon business is the standard. So, today is about working more closely in order to capitalise on our assets and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth.

“The strength and diversity of speakers, contributors and panel members from the Leeds City Region at the Base event shows that we have what it takes to become a dynamic, world-leading, sustainable, low carbon economy.

“The green business opportunities here are immense. We are most definitely open for business.”

To achieve its low carbon ambitions, the Leeds City Region LEP has set up a green economy panel tasked with spearheading the development of a low carbon built environment; supporting the growth of the environmental services sector; and helping all businesses make the most of the low carbon transformation.

Among the themes being discussed by delegates at the Base Leeds City Region event are:

• building low carbon buildings and retrofitting carbon and energy reducing technology to existing buildings;
• developing new waste treatment infrastructure and the associated engineering, manufacturing and professional services required;
• encouraging people to leave the car at home and use public transport – especially now the region has devolved powers to spend on transport through the City Deal;
• and ensuring the right digital infrastructure is in place so the necessary low carbon infrastructure works efficiently.

The Leeds City Region LEP will also be launching the second round of its Growing Places Fund loan scheme, which can be used to finance low carbon projects.