Midlands Net Zero Hub

🚘Fleet review support available for Midlands local authorities To help local authorities in the Midlands progress towards Net Zero, the Midlands Net Zero Hub is launching a Fleet Review support phase. Following the success of our Electrification of Depots Competition in January 2024, this initiative will help LAs assess their current fleets—providing essential insights into electrical demand and future fleet needs. 📢 Who can apply? This opportunity is open to LAs within the Midlands Net Zero Hub region. To be considered, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). 📅 Deadline: 11:59 pm, 20th February 2025 Find out more and apply now https://lnkd.in/eyYnHF-q

Looking forward to presenting at The National #ClimateChange conference next week. A great chance to hear about case studies from #localauthorities and partners who are making substantial progress to reducing their #carbon #emissions through strategic, multi sector approaches to deliver energy efficiencies, reducing scope 3 emissions and driving best value through low carbon solutions.

💼We welcome the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's announcement of the Regional Skills Pilot today. The creation of skilled workers is vital to achieving the UK Government’s 2030 clean energy mission, and through the training schemes that the Hub has supported, we can see the interest in green jobs continues to grow. Our research into the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services sector has demonstrated that a strategic approach to addressing skills gaps can unlock nearly £15 billion of economic growth in the region over the next 5 years. Not only will this work bolster the economy, the net zero transition will be transformational for communities in the Midlands, who are at the heart of our decarbonisation efforts. We look forward to working with government to identify and overcome the challenges around growing skills in the region that will support the transition to net zero. Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/ei672-53

🏆Three local authorities in the Midlands are celebrating nominations for the APSE - Association for Public Service Excellence Energy Awards. These national awards recognise the contribution of local government in addressing local energy and heat needs while reducing carbon emissions. Bolsover District Council, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council have both been named finalists at the inaugural Energy Awards, which will take place at APSE's Big Energy Summit in Birmingham. Both the awards and the event are sponsored by the Local Net Zero Hubs, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's programme to support councils to make net zero projects happen. Walsall is nominated in the “Supporting Innovation” category, while Sandwell and Bolsover have been shortlisted for “Working In Collaboration”. The winners will be announced at the conference on February 26th. https://lnkd.in/ePrZT_RT

🏘The Midlands Net Zero Hub has released a report that highlights the critical need to retrofit “hard-to-treat” social housing to meet net-zero goals and combat fuel poverty. These homes – often older and architecturally unique – pose significant challenges, including high costs, regulatory barriers, and tenant engagement issues. Key findings include: ✅Characteristics of hard-to-treat homes: Technical, locational, and financial challenges, coupled with tenant disruption. ✅Effective strategies: A fabric-first approach, innovative designs for tight spaces, and clear tenant engagement are essential. ✅Support needed: Comparative cost data, shared case studies, and public buy-in for low-carbon heating like air source heat pumps. Read the report on our website: https://lnkd.in/ebKRa8ZU

🎦 UPCOMING WEBINAR 🎦 🌳 🐝 Natural Capital & Biodiversity Net Gain 🐝 🌳 📅 Thurs 6th February 2025 📅 ⏲️ 13:00 - 14:00 ⏲️ The North West Net Zero Hub invite you to an online event where they will discuss the role of investment into natural capital and biodiversity net gain (BNG) as tools to support nature recovery. They will explore a beginner’s guide to natural capital and BNG, hear insightful presentations from a range of speakers working across the public and private sectors, and showcase examples of best practice and next steps. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation and discover new ways to make a positive impact!   Chair: Emily Diamand, Advocacy Coordinator, Nature North Lucinda Moore, Non-Exec Director, Legacy Biobanks Krista Patrick, Natural Capital Coordinator, Greater Manchester Combined Authority   Sign up now! https://lnkd.in/e2GNV-du?

This week we have launched the refreshed Low Carbon Goods and Services sector report to include data up to 2024. This shows that the LCEGS sector is now: ✅ Worth £31bn (up from £26.8bn in 2021) in total sales, and ✅ Supports 224,831 FTE employees across the Midlands. Reports that define and quantify the scale of the LCEGS sector across the Midlands are now available from the Hub’s website. As well as an overarching Midlands summary, reports and datasets have also been produced for all District, Borough, and Unitary local authorities in the region. With thanks to our project partners kMatrix, Sustainability West Midlands, and Midlands Engine. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eFZZYQ-n

🗾 Japanese government report finds Net Zero Hubs to be “essential” 📰 The work of the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub has been highlighted in a report commissioned by the Japanese government to make recommendations for how it can best support local areas to develop clean energy projects. The report concludes the UK’s national network of Local Net Zero Hubs, “play an important role in regional decarbonization in the UK” and described them as "essential". 🖥️ More details on our website Midlands Net Zero Hub, North West Net Zero Hub, Greater South East Net Zero Hub, South West Net Zero Hub #energy #decarbonisation #policy #government #localgovernment #northeast #yorkshire #teesvalley #northyorkshire #southyorkshire #eastyorkshire #westyorkshire #localgov #councils https://lnkd.in/ekXHbksE

⚡🚗 New guidance from Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles aims to help local authorities in England to develop policies about the safe and effective use of cross-pavement electric vehicle charging solutions, which can provide residents with convenient options. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/ePn_gfFE

Midlands Net Zero Hub has awarded grant funding to five local authorities in the region to make their local net zero projects happen. Boston Borough Council, Dudley Council, Redditch Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, and Worcester City Council will use the funding to investigate opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in industrial zones in their areas. The Industrial Zones Decarbonisation Project was created by the Hub and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support councils to develop decarbonisation plans and overcome barriers to getting industrial decarbonisation projects moving. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKD8vgmN