WELCOME TO A PLACE WHERE CHANGE HAPPENS.
We’re famous for our iconic river, our wind-swept coastline and international manufacturers. We’re known as a global gateway to the Atlantic and beyond, where passengers and products arrive and depart from our great port. Always ready for a challenge, we’re harnessing our natural assets and creating energy solutions that are making a significant difference to the fight against climate change.
WE ARE CREATORS
From the creative sparks making smarter solar panels, the marine biologists and oceanographers mapping our seas; to those installing the world’s biggest offshore wind turbines. In specialist factories and huge dockside facilities, universities laboratories and power stations; in every corner of this innovative region; we are creating a more sustainable future.
Thanks to our great schools, colleges and universities, Liverpool City Region has a rich seam of future engineering talent that will join an existing workforce.
Our city region has produced innovative Skills for Growth agreements for our key sectors which reflect a unique and innovative joint working between public, private and academic organisations to address current and future skills needs. A great example of this skills partnership in action can be seen at Wirral Met College, where more than 1,000 employers are engaged in ensuring that the curriculum portfolio matches the demands of local businesses.
CREATING NEW ENERGY
Liverpool is leading the way in developing new energy technologies, and significant advances in environmental research.
- Offshore Wind: Liverpool City Region is a designated Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering and has the world’s second largest concentration of offshore wind farms and the first commercial deployment of the world’s largest wind turbines is set to boost our offshore wind supply-chain opportunities for years to come.
- Solar: researchers at University of Liverpool have developed a new manufacturing method which could bring down the cost of making a type of solar cell. And with Pilkington, one of the world’s biggest glass manufacturers here, there’s no shortage of solar expertise in the city region.
- Wave and Tidal: the Mersey Estuary has one of the largest tidal ranges in Europe. Local private and public sector stakeholders are committed to develop a flagship scheme in Europe for renewable energy.
- Energy from Waste: we’ve got some serious credentials and capabilities when it comes to the generation of energy from food and animal waste. The region has been a leading player in initiatives such as the generation of power from biogas coming from organic waste and the recycling of chip fat from fast-food restaurants into biofuel for lorries.
- Combined heat and power: The efficient use of the energy in fuel is essential to reducing carbon emissions, Liverpool companies are at the forefront of this globally important technology, and many key buildings such as University of Liverpool have put the technology into action.
WE ARE COLLABORATORS.
This is a friendly and open place. People here work best when they work together. For us, open innovation isn’t a management theory, it’s a way of life around here. Our sense of community and solidarity runs deep. We attract manufacturers from around the world and bring them together in collaborative environments to build better products and services.
A great example of this approach is The Maritime Knowledge Hub which brings together key maritime assets with businesses, research institutions and skills providers to create a single centre for innovation, research and development and business support to drive growth within the marine and maritime sector.
COLLABORATING ON TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS
This is an area where the collective action of transport players is delivering real change. Local partnerships are working with Merseytravel, the city region’s Integrated Transport Authority, to ensure that our transport systems are sustainable.
There is significant investment into the local and regional rail infrastructure with on-going electrification to deliver capacity improvements and reduced emissions. Bus operators are investing in low emission bus fleets including diesel electric hybrids, compressed natural gas and biofuel buses.
The city region strongly supports the adoption of electric vehicles and partners continue to invest in EV charging infrastructure. New charging points are being installed supported by local companies providing equipment, installation and management services.
We have a unique set of assets associated with hydrogen production and distribution. Our universities, local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership are collaborating with local companies on hydrogen hybrid and fuel cell technologies and the creation of a public hydrogen refuelling station.
As a major European hub for the production of biofuels, we’re home to leading refiners producing fuel from sources such as used cooking oils and other recovered materials.
And our port infrastructure is focussed on the concept of port-centric logistics, to reduce unnecessary road freight and reduce carbon emissions.
WE ARE CHALLENGERS.
This is a place with spirit, pride and passion. We’re independent and we never shy from challenging the status quo. When someone says it can’t be done; we’ll find a way; when things need changing and new models are required, you’ll find us right there at the forefront of innovation and change.
Our region is bursting full of innovators and entrepreneurs that are revolutionising their industries. Not only will you find individuals and creators; we also have the right infrastructure to nurture and support them.
The role of government agencies and academic partners in creating the right environment to facilitate and encourage innovation is essential. Across the city region there is a proactive approach to champion change and to harness the benefits of industrial and digital transformation.
CHALLENGING CLIMATE CHANGE
We’re taking a leading role in the fight against climate change. As well as pioneering new environmental technologies and harnessing renewable sources of energy, we’re taking up the challenge street by street.
Local authorities across the city region are engaged in a retrofitting programme. Social rented housing offers huge opportunities to improve its energy efficiency and there are similar levels of retrofit opportunities to commercial and industrial building stock, centred on insulation, lighting, heating and ventilation, and building controls.
Whether it’s on our roads, ports, railways and airports; from houses to factories; and in our schools, colleges and universities – in the greatest of global challenges, Liverpool is making a difference.
The bottom line: Liverpool City Region is a profitable and productive place for innovative manufacturers.
For more information on Low Carbon industries in Liverpool City Region, download the brochure here.