Mace Consult and Net Zero North West spotlight synergies between industrial manufacturing and clean energy transition
A new report, produced by Mace Consult in partnership with Net Zero North West (NZNW), has unveiled the critical role that the manufacturing industry in North West England must play in supporting the UK’s long-term economic resilience, energy security and clean energy transition.
The report, Why Industry Matters, warns that delivering the UK’s energy transition and protecting domestic manufacturing competitiveness are fundamentally interconnected, with long-term industrial growth dependent on the successful delivery of clean and reliable energy infrastructure.
The paper highlights the North West’s position as one of the UK’s most significant industrial economies and explores how the region’s manufacturing base, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, glass and other advanced production sectors, plays a vital role in supporting economic growth, exports, jobs and national resilience.
Within this context, the report goes on to argue that industrial decarbonisation mustn’t be seen simply as an environmental objective, but as a strategic economic priority linked directly to the UK’s future competitiveness, energy security and manufacturing resilience.
It warns the full value of delivering more clean power infrastructure will not be unlocked if domestic industry is not positioned to grow, invest and remain globally competitive alongside.
Using public access economic data, collating the findings of industry and government reports, and drawing on the experience and skills of Mace Consult’s Advisory and Resilience teams, the paper offers a holistic view of the specific challenges and opportunities presented to the North West and its industrial ecosystem.
Chief among the report’s recommendations is a call for a more coordinated ‘whole-system approach’ that brings together industry, infrastructure, investment, skills and energy policy to strengthen industrial competitiveness while accelerating the transition towards a lower carbon economy.
Speaking at the launch of the report in the House of Commons, NZNW CEO, Jane Gaston, told policymakers and industrial stakeholders:
“Industry has shaped the North West’s economy and communities for generations, and this report highlights just how important it remains to the UK’s future prosperity, resilience and energy transition.
“The UK cannot deliver long-term energy security and economic resilience without a strong industrial base, just as industry cannot remain competitive without the successful delivery of clean, reliable and affordable energy infrastructure.
“This report provides an important evidence base to help inform future policy, investment and collaboration across the region, while highlighting the urgent need to strengthen long-term industrial confidence, workforce resilience and competitiveness.”
Rachel O’Donnell, Director for Resilience, Europe, at Mace Consult, said:
“As this report shows, industrial decarbonisation is not a single challenge to solve, but a complex transition that requires joined-up thinking across infrastructure, investment, policy and delivery.
“We’re helping clients like NZNW navigate this transition through a blend of strategic advisory expertise and programme delivery capability that unpicks complexity and unlocks opportunity, turning decarbonisation ambitions into practical actions.”