A Liverpool region MP is backing the Wirral to emerge as a leading centre for the low carbon economy, after visiting the Green Energy Training Centre (GETC) in Bromborough.
Esther McVey the MP for Wirral West visited the centre to find out about its training initiatives and aims to up-skill the region in microgeneration technologies.
The Green Energy Training Centre opened in November 2010 as a state-of-the-art facility, offering practical hands-on training in heat pump and solar technology. The GETC is a partnership between global green energy products manufacturer Stiebel Eltron, North West training provider Scientiam, and the Skills Funding Agency.
Ms McVey met with Mark McManus, managing director of Stiebel Eltron, and Jayne Worthington, managing director of Scientiam, to discuss how best to promote Wirral as a hub for renewable energy technology and business.
Ms McVey said she had held positive meetings with energy and climate minister Charles Hendry, in a bid to ensure that the region was well positioned to take advantage of any government funding or new initiatives within the renewables sector.
“We have a great opportunity to place Wirral as an exemplar for renewable energy technologies,” she said.
“The building blocks are in place for the region to grow as a low carbon hub. We have a good cluster of renewable energy firms and we need to use what’s already here to drive further inward investment and bring other green businesses to the area. It is vital that we get the message across to people that Merseyside is the place to go for renewable energy solutions.
“Wirral is a well educated area and has a great workforce across all levels. We need to bring in more experienced and talented people to the area, as well as retaining the talent that is available here. We have a great facility with the Green Energy Training Centre and there is a real opportunity to up-skill the local workforce in a burgeoning green industry.”
Jayne Worthington said the Green Energy Training Centre was fulfilling its aims of training scores of installers, as well as increasing the knowledge of green energy in the public sector.
“Since opening the GETC has welcomed a wide range of people for training, from plumbers and electricians looking to diversify into microgeneration, to organisations such as Wirral Partnership Homes who have taken advantage of the green awareness courses on offer,” she said. “The GETC is a fantastic facility and we will continue to develop our courses to meet the demand for green technology skills and knowledge.”
Mr McManus added: “There is a lot of opportunity to intertrade within the region but businesses need to be aware of the supplier and partner potential. The council and The Mersey Partnership are very supportive of the region’s green economy and we can now back up the message that there is strong expertise and knowledge of the renewable energy industry here on the Wirral and in Merseyside as a whole.”
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