A new Green Skills Academy has launched in Greater Manchester, as part of a pan-northern effort to lead the UK’s transition to Net Zero.

The first of its kind in the North, the Green Skills Academy was officially opened by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on 19 January 2023 and is home to the latest green technologies, all contained under one roof.

Boasting cutting-edge technologies and a comprehensive training offer, the Growth Company Education and Skill’s new Academy will play a critical role in Greater Manchester’s ambitions to reach Net Zero carbon as early as 2038 and will work with businesses UK-wide in order to help hit the national 2050 target.

The Academy is equipped with technologies that will help prepare today’s workforce for the opportunities and challenges presented by the global transition to a carbon neutral economy.

At the heart of the Academy is a model Low Energy Smart Home designed to show how existing homes can be entirely powered by green technology. The home is wind turbine powered with underfloor heating provided by an air source heat pump and equipped with the latest energy-saving gadgets, allowing learners easy access to work with technologies that would normally be outdoors