Energy Innovation Agency hosts successful Accelerating Sustainability event in Manchester
- Friday, October 10, 2025
- Posted By The Growth Company
This week the Energy Innovation Agency brought together more than 100 delegates from across the sustainability, innovation and low-carbon sectors as it hosted its 4th annual conference, at INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester.
Through a combination of keynote sessions, presentations, panel discussions, and fireside chats, the event delivered engaging and insightful content covering themes of collaboration, innovation and action at its heart, as the Agency continues to facilitate connections, knowledge-sharing and partnerships which accelerate action through low-carbon innovation deployment, increasing carbon reduction and supporting Greater Manchester in reaching its 2038 carbon-neutral target.
This was our most ambitious event to date, and it didn’t disappoint! With great speakers from the public, and academic sectors, as well from the private sector, through innovators and end-users, sharing how actions, through collaboration and innovation, are driving real progress in sustainability, both regionally, and internationally…
We wanted this year to focus on the here and now - giving organisations clear, actionable steps they can take away to overcome their energy challenges and move closer to their energy goals. The level of discussion, the quality of insight and the breadth of perspectives shared were outstanding. A huge thank you goes to our panellists, presenters, partners and the diverse audience who all contributed real-world experience and solutions. I was especially pleased to see so much meaningful networking taking place throughout the day - those connections are vital to underpin the collaboration that drives innovation and lasting impact.
The opening keynote, delivered by Andrew Hodgson, Chair of Innovation Greater Manchester, spoke about the power of innovation ecosystems and their role in driving clean growth and productivity and ultimately changing people’s lives.
This was followed by David Schiele, Director of the Energy Innovation Agency, who reflected on the Agency's significant achievements and activity in connecting innovators and buyers, to deliver cutting-edge projects and fostering strategic partnerships that enable scalable, innovative projects delivering real-world impact.
In demonstrating its level of ambition for this year’s event and recognising that the net zero challenge is not a local one but a global one, the Agency was proud to host speakers with expertise beyond the UK including Jens Bjørn Staff, CEO of Skagerak Energi Group from Norway, Tara McCarthy from Innovation Cluster Greenwin in Belgium, Megan Woodworth from Kantar Energy Partners with links into the Middle East and Luke Rowson from the International Workplace Group.
Jens Bjørn Staff delivered an inspiring keynote, demonstrating through practical case studies how Skagerak Energi is leading the charge towards renewable energy and digital innovation - including their support for Norway's Odds BK football club to become the most energy efficient in the world. Jens drew parallels between the challenges faced in Norway and Greater Manchester, reinforcing the need for a shared urgency to act and the role and opportunity from collaboration in tackling cross-border challenges around energy, climate and nature.
The international panel which followed continued this theme, sharing insights into how global collaboration can drive local change - from the importance of clear communication between policy frameworks (as seen in Belgium) to the need for strong investor readiness (as championed by Kantar Advisory Partners) and the value of scaling innovation through shared expertise and networks.
We may not be able to save the world alone, but we can - and will - do our part. Collaboration is not optional; it is essential.
The final keynote was delivered by Mark Atherton, Director of Environment at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, who highlighted the aims and objectives of the Greater Manchester 5-Year Energy Plan in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation recognising that while the Greater Manchester 2038 target is challenging it’s there, and through action in energy infrastructure, buildings, transport and supporting adoption of sustainable business models we continue to drive towards it, explaining the need for the Agency as a vehicle to accelerate commercialisation of viable solutions to help meet that need and demand.
Dan Dickinson, Low Carbon Policy Lead at Greater Manchester Combined Authority went on to detail the policy and legislative drivers supporting low-carbon growth, including £120m of PSDS funding already secured for local authority buildings, and plans to build and investable pipeline of £1bn of low-carbon projects. Steve Malkin, Founder of Planet Mark, followed and spoke about the business case for sustainability, emphasising the importance of measuring data so you can track and measure progress & highlighting that sustainability needs to be a strategic commitment for businesses supported via viable business cases.
Throughout the event, speakers and attendees alike echoed the same message: collaboration and innovation are critical. Attendees left with practical steps to accelerate their own organisations sustainability journeys - from understanding funding routes and policy drivers, to learning how innovation can improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
As in all previous events, a key feature was the dedicated networking time, enabling delegates to meet, make new connections and continue collaborating beyond the event.
Every year we see more ideas become a reality, this event shows what happens when collaboration turns into action. Together, we are driving the innovation that will help Greater Manchester and beyond achieve a sustainable, net zero future.
The Energy Innovation Agency continues to work with partners across the public and private sectors to accelerate sustainable innovation and support businesses in their decarbonisation journey. If you'd like to learn more about our work or get involved in our next event, contact us today.