Paul Smith Associates
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Powering the Green Industrial Revolution

The Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn, is to host a one-day conference on 'Powering the Green Industrial Revolution' as part of an official programme of COP26 events being staged by the North West Region.

The Heath event on Thursday, November 4th is one of two regional roadshows that celebrate progress made to cut carbon from job-creating, energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing and will address what the future holds when the UK reaches its net zero target. A second roadshow will be held in Manchester on November 9th.

As part of the UK hosting the international UN Climate Conference, the two free official roadshows will combine with a programme of North West events also planned at COP26 in Glasgow.

Leaders from across the North West — home to 7.3 million people — are uniting for COP26 by sending a clear message to international leaders that, with the right investment, the region can become the first in the UK to reach net zero. Doing so would create thousands of green jobs, improve air quality and stimulate billions of investment into communities.

The Runcorn roadshow is an opportunity to put the spotlight on The Heath Business and Technical Park’s owner and operator SOG Group. SOG intends to transform the location into ‘Heath Park’ in a ground-breaking scheme that will create a sustainable futuristic environment, powered by renewable energy, where people can live work and play.

The Heath Park vision, which aims to create a totally net zero environment ahead of Government targets, has been validated by the Government. It features among the UK’s top 35 ethical projects in the Department of International Trade’s ‘Global Investment Atlas’ that was launched at the Global Investment Summit in London on October 19th.

John Lewis, SOG owner and Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be part of the North-West’s programme of action to tackle climate change. One of the major goals of our Heath Park scheme is for the site to be ultimately powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. Sustainability is our watchword, and we propose to include a world-leading ‘Next Generation’ Vertical Farm at the heart of the community. The Vertical Farm element of our Heath Park vision has involved a successful world-first Pilot Study in which a vertical farm was powered by hydrogen cell technology. The success of this Pilot has validated the model and is a key step towards realising the goal of Net Zero Carbon Vertical Farms.

“Heath Park is focused on meeting the challenges of climate change. We’ve been adopted as a Liverpool City Region Beacon Project and are therefore precisely the kind of hugely significant scheme that must happen if the North-West, and indeed the UK, are to achieve their net zero aspirations.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “COP26 is an internationally important event, a rare chance where the eyes of the world will be on the UK. We have a responsibility to lead international efforts to cut our carbon emissions, rapidly decarbonise and, ultimately, to save our planet. I believe that the North West will be the (clean) engine that drives that national effort, and that my region should be at the heart of that.

“I want the Liverpool City Region to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, leading the charge towards net zero, and taking advantage of the myriad of jobs, investment and opportunities that it will provide. From our existing strengths in wind and solar power, to revolutionary new projects like HyNet and our Mersey Tidal Power scheme, our region has the potential to be Britain’s Renewable Energy Coast — with local people benefiting from the employment and training opportunities that go with it.

“At COP26 in Glasgow next month, I’ll be banging the drum to make sure we get the support and investment to help make sure it happens.”

The North West COP26 programme is being coordinated by the Local Energy North-West Hub, alongside the five North West Local Enterprise Partnerships - Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Cumbria LEP, Greater Manchester LEP, Liverpool City Region LEP and Lancashire LEP - Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Speakers at the events will include political, business and academic leaders from across the region, all active in the mission to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

People and businesses can register to attend the COP26 regional roadshow in Runcorn:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cop26-regional-roadshow-powering-the-green-industrial-revolution-tickets-190913526497

To register for the Manchester COP26 roadshow go to:

https://forms.zohopublic.eu/marketingmanchester/form/COP26NorthWestGreenZone/formperma/Qw7dwI7YUOo1R2pTjVUWsKE5xKQlKRY79YI0Doa08gg

Notes To Editors
Media are invited to attend the COP26 Regional Roadshows in Runcorn and Manchester.
To attend, for media interviews or further information, please contact:
lewis@fontcomms.com
07779 167422

About The Heath
The Heath Business and Technical Park is a phenomenal regeneration success story. Formed in 2000, its owner and operator, SOG Ltd, has transformed a once single occupancy corporate facility into a thriving independent business park. The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for more than 120 individual organisations, ranging from business services and IT specialists to those at the cutting edge of science, research and advanced manufacturing. Around 2,000 people are employed at the site. For further information, telephone 01928 515988 or visit www.theheath.com

For more information, please see:
www.theheath.com

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
25th October 2021