Bradford’s burgeoning green sector brought in more than £1.4bn 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 report reveals the region’s Green Technologies and Services (GTS) sector, ranging from Wind to Carbon Finance, are collectively valued at £8.1bn and expected to grow to £11.1bn 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. 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 Bradford’s GTS sector contributed £1.4bn to the local economy with more than 500 businesses and over 9,300 employees.
The upward trajectory is set to continue with a forecast growth rate of 8.9% in 2022/23 and by 12.5% by 2025/26.
The GTS sector is also providing thousands of jobs – the report reveals.
The data shows the GTS sector employed 9,347 people in 2022/23, constituting 4.1% of Bradford’s economically active population.
Certain sub-sectors like Geothermal, Carbon Finance, Air Source Heat Pumps, and Biomass anticipate double-digit growth by 2025/26.
Six leading sub-sectors: Wind, Alternative Fuels, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Building Technologies, Carbon Finance, and Geothermal, account for 63% of Bradford’s GTS sector activity (they have a product or service in this sub-sector) in 2022/23 – the report adds.
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.
And 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, which is funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The call to action comes as the report shows that across West Yorkshire there is an opportunity to create more high-quality local jobs with employment in West Yorkshire’s GTS 2023 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
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 Bradford 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 Bradford 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.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw
A new training voucher scheme 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 Bradford 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 Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This is very encouraging news as our district gears up for net zero. The green economy is already starting to give our business sector and workforce a huge boost. We hope this will attract more to come forward and invest in our district.”
Traders, companies, and local authorities seeking decarbonisation support can find more details here.
