Ben Houchen sits in on Clean Energy Sector Council meeting
Tracey Brabin was appointed to the Clean Energy Sector Council in her role as the Chair of UK Mayors.
However, she was unable to attend the meeting on 13 January and delegated to Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
The Council will play a pivotal role in shaping the government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy to be published in Spring 2025.
The Industrial Strategy is a cornerstone of the government’s growth mission, aimed at supporting good jobs, unlocking investment, and improving living standards across the UK.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is prioritising clean energy industries and will publish a detailed plan as part of the strategy. The plan will outline approaches to creating growth in clean energy, including skills development and workforce planning.
The Council will bring together local and devolved leaders, business representatives, trade unions, and other experts to identify opportunities and address barriers within the sector. These discussions will directly inform the wider Industrial Strategy Advisory Council.
It will be jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds.
Ben Houchen said: “I am delighted to be supporting the government’s Industrial Strategy by sharing Teesside’s success story and using our experience to inform the national agenda.
“It is fantastic that the work being done at Teesworks to attract investment, create jobs, and grow the economy, is being recognised by Government and it is positive that this model will now inform the national strategy.
“We all want to see the Government succeed in its growth mission and our region has demonstrated how clean energy investment can deliver transformative economic growth, create good-quality jobs, all while driving forward our net zero ambitions.
“By working together at a national level, we can ensure the UK remains at the forefront of this industrial revolution.”
The first roundtable of the Clean Energy Sector Council was held on Monday 13th January and focussed on identifying industries with the greatest potential for UK growth and explored policy solutions to overcome challenges.