Manchester appoints Head of Carbon Economy

Manchester Enterprises, the economic development agency for Greater Manchester region has appointed Steve Turner as Head of Carbon Economy.

The newly created role will address how the Manchester city region can drive forward its economic development, whilst improving the uptake of renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. In his new post Steve will be working closely with a wide variety of partners across the city region and building on the successes that have already been achieved in such innovative programmes as Manchester is My Planet and the Low Carbon Cities Programme.

Steve says: "This is a really exciting time to join Manchester Enterprises. Climate Change is high on the Government’s agenda and that of the city region.

"As part of my role I will be exploring the infrastructures needed to provide stable supplies of cheap low carbon energy that meet international agreements to benefit established businesses and encourage new business to the city region. Of particular interest will be the implications of the Climate Change Bill.

"A key priority is to work with the team developing an Environment Commission on behalf of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, specifically to develop and implement a proposal for a Climate Change Agency. I will also be taking forward the groundbreaking 'mini stern' economic review of the city region and the effect of climate change on economic priorities".

Prior to joining Manchester Enterprises, Steve worked for a number of local authorities including the London Borough of Southwark, where he worked on government regeneration programmes including those at the Elephant and Castle and Peckham. During his period at Southwark he also established the Southwark Energy Agency and led work on a number of European related energy programmes. Steve has also worked on a range of environmental economic studies and economic appraisal work across the north west, including the north west renewable energy study and north west environmental economy study. At Lancashire County Council he led the authority’s work on climate change and represented north west local authorities on the UK Climate Impacts Programme.