
The Midlands has been named the UK’s latest Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA), with Secretary of State for Business Lord Mandelson announcing £19m to make the region a leader in low carbon vehicle research and development.
The region has been designated a Low Carbon Economic Area for Automotive Engineering, which is being led by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA).
Quotes
Lord Mandelson said:
“I want to see the Midlands help the UK to lead the global automotive industry in the transition from conventional to low carbon vehicle technologies. The LCEA will send a clear signal to the global market about the Midlands’ strengths in advanced automotive engineering.
“The move towards a low carbon economy presents huge opportunities. This new funding will help secure the Midlands’ 10,000 existing car industry jobs, by helping transform them into the green car jobs of the future.”
Mick Laverty, Chief Executive at Advantage West Midlands, said:
“This is great news and reflects the real strengths of the West and East Midlands regions in automotive manufacturing. Becoming a Low Carbon Economic Area will reinforce our growing reputation as globally competitive regions, which continue to develop cutting-edge green technologies and high technology industries upon which the future prosperity of all UK regions will depend.
Bryan Jackson, Chairman of East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which takes the lead role for manufacturing on behalf of England’s Regional Development Agencies, said:
“Automotive manufacturing is vitally important to the Midlands’ economy and this announcement is fantastic news. The East and West Midlands share a rich industrial heritage and through the Low Carbon Economic Area, we will continue to nurture the innovation of our companies to ensure that we prosper in a new global low carbon economy.
“It means that our automotive businesses will be able to access world class facilities and the expertise of our excellent universities leading to the development of new low carbon transport technologies. In the East Midlands, the Low Carbon Economic Area will link with the work that we are already doing through our unique transport innovation network (iNet) which is driving forward innovations in the transport equipment market.”
Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KB CBE, Director and Founder of the University of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) said:
“The car industry is facing huge challenges over the next decade. From emissions, the environment to safety engineering, a new generation of hi-tech but low carbon cars will be required. Today’s announcement is a crucial and most welcome government investment in low carbon automotive engineering which will help companies meet these global needs and provide them with new opportunities to grow as the world emerges from recession.
“The Midlands has a substantial, highly sophisticated, and advanced automotive industry and supply chain. This investment will bring researchers and manufacturers together to ensure that that industry and supply chain not only prospers but plays a leading role in building our low carbon future.”
Ian Austin, Regional Minister for the West Midlands said:
“Advanced automotive engineering and low carbon technologies are extremely important to the future prosperity of the Midlands’ and UK economy.
“Today’s announcement is fantastic news for the two Midlands regions and will provide a huge boost to the competitiveness and innovation of our companies, large and small.”
Phil Hope, Regional Minister for the East Midlands, said:
“Establishing the region as a Low Carbon Economic Area will further strengthen the Midlands’ role at the heart of the UK’s automotive engineering sector.
“By providing the environment for businesses in this sector to develop and implement new, low-carbon ideas, we will ensure that Midlands-based companies remain at the cutting edge of new technologies, creating skilled, green jobs and bringing additional wealth to the region.”
Press notice
Read the Department for Business Innovation and Skills press notice here.
Photos

Photos are from Lord Mandelson’s visit to the University of Warwick. Photo credit: Edward Moss.