N8 Director Dr Annette Bramley responds to today’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ announcement from government – to spur the UK’s recovery from the Coronavirus outbreak.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak today set out the second part of a three-phase plan to secure the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus – focussing on skills and young people, creating jobs with investment in shovel-ready projects, greening our infrastructure and more.
Speaking in response to the plans, Dr Annette Bramley, Director of the N8 Research Partnership, said: “There were many encouraging initiatives announced today by the Chancellor. The £2bn Green Homes Grant is excellent news both for homeowners and the environment, and is indicative of type of measures that need to be implemented at a wider scale in order for the UK to reach its Net Zero aims while rebuilding the post-Covid-19 economy and creating jobs across the country.
“The continued commitment to the retrofitting of public buildings and national infrastructure in order to make them more energy efficient is also welcome.
“However, while encouraging – there is still much to be done to decarbonise our economy. We need to connect the Northern Powerhouse’s research and science base with industrial partners to accelerate economic growth, support the creation of new sustainable jobs, provide training and skills development opportunities and drive a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The sharing of knowledge and expertise across different stakeholders will result in both sizeable job creation in communities throughout the North and real progress in meeting the 2050 target. Given the economic and environmental danger we find ourselves in, collaboration is now more important than ever.”
Read the full news announcement from government here: www.gov.uk/government/news/rishis-plan-for-jobs-will-help-britain-bounce-back
Find out more about the N8 Research Partnership’s Net Zero North programme of research which aims to drive innovation for a net-zero recovery from the coronavirus, to unlock new business opportunities and create jobs in the green economy in the Northern Powerhouse.