Greater Manchester's Green Economy Sector Mapping

The new study found the sector generated £8.6bn in sales in 2019-20, representing 14.5% of the business base and 3.2% of Greater Manchester’s employment.  

“With 4% of local sales coming from the GTS sector, Greater Manchester is the home to the UK’s third biggest green economy, behind London and the South East,” said Amy House, Director of Green Economy. “On the international level, when comparing sales value in proportion to GDP, Greater Manchester has outperformed European cities like Milan, Copenhagen, Seattle, Berlin, Rome and Stockholm.”  

However, although Greater Manchester has many strengths across the local supply chain, the report identified that the growth rate of the GTS sector in Greater Manchester is 7.1%, which is slightly slower compared to the UK’s growth rate (7.4%). Within the same period, the sector grew by 14% around the Globe.  

Amy House said: “To ensure Greater Manchester seizes the opportunities presented by the net zero transition, we will need to further invest in the GTS sector, particularly across renewable energy generation and storage, which provides a large potential to grow in the future.”  

Green Economy works with the sector in Greater Manchester through the GC Business Growth Hub, which provides funded support to small and medium enterprises in the region. 

“GC Business Growth Hub’s sustainability and net zero teams assisted businesses in implementing resource efficiency measures on the journey to net zero. Green Economy help to grow the local network of suppliers that will deliver this transition,” said Janine Smith, Director of the Hub. “Together, we provided a full-circle approach to carbon reduction. I urge installers, suppliers and providers of green products and services to get in touch and speak to Green Economy today.”   

For more information on the report, please go to: Greater Manchester’s green economy - sector mapping study (greenintelligence.org.uk)