GM Green Summit 2023: developing the skills pipeline for a future green economy

Manchester Met hosted a special discussion on how to create and support the skills needed for a future green economy

Manchester Met once again led the way at the Greater Manchester Green Summit hosting a special discussion on how to create and support the skills needed for a future green economy.  

The GM Green Summit 2023 brought together employers, experts, policymakers and the education sector to look at ways of helping the city-region meet its ambitious goals of becoming Net Zero by 2038.  

The University hosted a panel session on its work to support a green economy, such as delivering its carbon literacy training – which helps people and organisations understand their carbon footprint and how to make changes – and how its sustainable hydrogen fuel cell expertise is supporting innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  

It is the fifth year the University has sponsored the event, held at The Lowry Theatre in Salford. 

Professor Liz Price, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability at Manchester Met, who chaired the session, said: “It is vital that we come together to develop solutions to move towards a Net Zero future and the GM Green Summit is an important forum for the city-region where we can discuss, shape and plan a carbon-free future.  
  
“As a University, we are committed to becoming ever more sustainable, but it is also important the city takes collective action towards a future green economy.  

“We’re ideally placed at Manchester Met to support this: helping SMEs from across the region access the skills and technology needed to innovate clean, green products and services. And through the training for our students, staff and within other organisations we can all become agents of change on our journey to cut carbon emissions.”  

Only last week, Manchester Met welcomed the Shadow Minister for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, who praised the University’s Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre as ‘helping to inform and shape our policy in this important area’.

This year, Dr Rachel Dunk, Principal Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan was awarded the first-ever Carbon Literacy Catalyst Individual Award at the Green Summit by the Carbon Literacy Project.

The University has already committed to embed Carbon Literacy and Education for Sustainable Development on all courses by 2026, including its higher-level and degree apprenticeships.

In 2022, the University helped launch the North West Net Zero Skills Charter, which is designed by Manchester Met and its partners to help businesses harness new Net Zero opportunities for the benefit of communities and people across the region.  

At last year’s Green Summit, Manchester Met committed to delivering a pipeline of green skills that will prepare students for future careers when ‘all jobs will be green jobs.’    

Greater Manchester’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038 is also a key focus for the University’s Leadership in Sustainability Strategy 2022 to 2026.

If you couldn't attend the GM Green Summit, watch the live stream.