Journey to Net Zero course unlocks Greater Manchester's green potential

A fully-funded training programme available to every working person in Greater Manchester is accelerating the region’s ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2038.

With government targeting a reduction in emissions by 78 per cent by 2035, the Low Carbon Skills: Journey to Net Zero programme helps people to better understand the environmental challenge in their workplaces, empowering them to begin or progress their net zero journeys and create a clear and strategic plan for achieving those ambitions.

Delivered by Greater Manchester-headquartered social enterprise The Growth Company, the course helps participants to understand key net zero terms and the risks and opportunities for business.

Catriona Watson, programme manager - Net Zero Training at the GC Business Growth Hub, says: “Organisations across Greater Manchester are starting to reckon with the environmental challenge we’re all facing and the role that they can play in adapting their own practices for the benefit of us all.”

Manchester-headquartered textiles producer Thomas Kneale supplies bedroom, bathroom and household textiles and undertook the Journey to Net Zero programme in July 2021.

Since completing the programme, the company has achieved a reduction to date of several tonnes of CO2e per annum. The replacement of an old boiler with a modern, combi model is saving 2.3 tonnes of CO2e every year. In April 2023, the company was recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category.

Each learner leaves with a carbon calculator workbook to implement what they have learned and put into practice with their business. Further support is also available through The Growth Company, including access to a local green tech supplier marketplace.

Llyr Roberts, sustainability officer at Onward Homes, undertook the training in March 2023. About the course, he says: “For me, the biggest take away was how relevant to each organisation the course was made, discussing what the information you were giving us meant specifically to our organisation was really helpful in identifying the correct steps for us.

“The workbook provided is also really helpful as it provides you with a template to start taking the first steps in calculating your emissions. We have started setting our initial boundaries and considering who within the business we need to start engaging in order to start collecting data.”

The course is being run in partnership with Bee Net Zero, a Greater Manchester-wide initiative that aims to make the city region the easiest place to be a net zero organisation. Bee Net Zero consists of five pillars of activity: Training & Awareness; Technical Support; Collaboration; Acceleration and Programme Management.

Hayley Hulme, managing director of Starts With You, has also undertaken the course. She adds: “Since completing the course we have calculated our carbon footprint so we can now put in place a reduction strategy. We have also upskilled some internal colleagues and put processes in place to ensure data is captured to help monitor our impact.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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