pro.manchester to drive low carbon agenda in the sector

pro.manchester is working in partnership with professionaliverpool to encourage financial and professional services to tap into the increasing demand for green industries and reduce their collective carbon footprint.

Building on the region’s commitment to developing a low carbon economy, the city region has already amassed strong credentials in the area. These include becoming the UK’s first low carbon economic area for the built environment in 2009 as well as the development of Manchester City Council’s Carbon Innovation Fund.

The NWDA’s Carbon Challenge Fund was also set up as part of the North West Climate Change Action Plan, setting out the region’s mission to become the leader on climate change by 2020.

Working with Manchester’s Commission for the New Economy and NWDA, a research study is due to get underway this month. This sets out to identify what advice, products and services financial and professional firms currently offer and explore how these might be developed in the future.

Employers will be invited to complete an online questionnaire and take part in a series of in-depth interviews. The research will cover carbon credits and carbon trading, carbon reduction project funding and compliance with carbon reduction and energy efficiency schemes.

The research will also explore how accountants, lawyers, surveyors, bankers and consultants can help businesses in the North West to meet the requirements of the green agenda by reducing their carbon footprint and generating additional jobs and revenue using green technologies.

Elizabeth Iwanina, Head of Research for Manchester’s Commission for the New Economy, said: “As the low carbon agenda continues to grow, what is currently seen as a niche project will soon become mainstream for many businesses.

“By developing a suite of services to meet the needs of the low carbon agenda, the North West’s financial and professional firms have the potential to become market leaders, offering specialised services and increasing employment in this field.”

John Ashcroft, Chief Executive of pro.manchester, added: “Manchester is a front-runner city for innovation in tackling the low carbon and green agenda.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for the region’s financial and professional services community to be an exemplar in the development of a low carbon economy and make a significant contribution to the UK’s low carbon agenda.”