More than 1,000 jobs for Wolverhampton amid climate change plans - city leader unveils ambitions for Green Innovation Corridor
City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins outlines climate change ambitions with the Green Innovation Corridor expteceted to create more than 1,000 new jobs
Regeneration bosses have been warned it would be a ‘dereliction of their duty’ not to embrace the growing green innovation industry in the West Midlands.
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board approved a new Climate Change Five Year Plan as part of its long term aim of being carbon neutral by 2041.
City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins said climate change deniers were entitled to their opinions but warned big players in sectors such as car manufacturing and aeronautics have already embraced green technology.
He added it was therefore imperative for WMCA to ensure skills and opportunities were there for the engineers of the future.
A report to the Board said the 2026-2031 five year plan will build on work already carried out by local authorities in the first plan which was agreed in 2021.
It said the new plan will focus on six areas including energy infrastructure planning, providing advice to residents and businesses to try new products and jobs and supply chains.
In Wolverhampton, the Green Innovation Corridor is being developed with the aim of attracting hundreds of millions in investment and creating more than 1,000 new jobs.
Councillor Simkins said: “Whether you are a climate change denier or not, you need to look at the industry.
“The industry has already moved into that space so the investment is coming through there, JLR and all the other major car companies across the globe are moving into electric vehicles.
“It would be a dereliction of our duty not to provide skills for the West Midlands to actually take advantage of this new industry coming forward.
“Even meeting some of the aeronautical industries in Wolverhampton, they are moving to looking at solutions for changing fuel.
“Shouldn’t we be getting our workforce ready for the engineers of the future? I support this and the further investment that comes from the combined authority and the local authorities.
“We’ve got the Green Innovation Corridor that’s going to come to us very quickly so we can take advantage of that to give people the jobs and skills for the future.
“Also, to look at solutions. Is there a green solution for potholes? Is there some new materials we could use? So, let’s not be negative about the opportunities that present themselves.
“You’re entitled to your beliefs, if you want to believe that climate change is made up or whatever but it would be a dereliction of our duty not to provide the skills and jobs and opportunities for the future.”
