Council has clear green focus

Telford & Wrekin Council is one of just two local authorities to put forward net zero propositions for an ‘investment atlas’ launched at the Green Investment Summit in London.

The Department for International Trade requested propositions for the atlas from across the UK and selected destinations with a clear green focus for inclusion. 

Telford was selected as an area with strengths in clean technology and innovation and agri-technology and has two of the six Midlands entries in the ‘foreign direct investment’ category.

One of Telford’s net zero propositions is transitioning to a circular economy and Telford is leading the UK with a fast-developing, high-growth waste management industry, a local supply chain and breakthrough technologies.

Companies are capitalising on the benefits of leasing, re-using and re-processing materials for new uses which are providing environmental, social and economic benefits.

Employing a circular economy for the e-waste sector improves sustainable production and consumption, increases resource efficiency and contributes to Net Zero and carbon emissions reduction goals.

Businesses which have adopted the circular economy approach include AO Recycling in Telford which operates the largest centre for recycling old white goods in the UK.

Another of the proposals focuses on Agri-technology where precision farming is leading the way in the sustainable transformation of the global agricultural sector through innovative opportunities.

Telford, through Harper Adams University, provides access to precision farming innovation with strengths in agriculture and advanced engineering.

Companies in Telford are contributing to the technological revolution in precision agriculture with the design and development of satellite positioning systems, variable rate technology, geo-mapping, energy management systems, remote sensing and automated steering systems.

Ni.PARK, Telford’s new innovation business park offers ideal grow-on space for agri-tech companies with incubation space and high-specification manufacturing and research units.

The Ni.PARK project is part of the council’s commitment to attract inward investment to the borough, delivered through its Growth Fund, which looks to ensure the right properties are delivered in the right location.

Businesses which are putting agri-technology into practice include MagGrow which specialises in agricultural spraying using radical, patented, magnetic-based technology. The company has established its own UK Agricultural Research Centre and its expanding team is developing intellectual property and associated technology.

All propositions which are approved will be developed into the Investment Atlas document and provide a Foreign Direct Investment opportunity.