We were proud to welcome Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to the new TEST Consulting office in Leeds this week, as the region officially launched its new Green Economy Cluster Action Plan.
The visit marked an important moment for West Yorkshire’s growing green economy and highlighted the vital role local businesses play in driving clean growth, innovation, and sustainable jobs across the region.
A Growing Green Economy in West Yorkshire
The newly launched action plan showcases the strong momentum already building across West Yorkshire. The region’s green economy currently:
- Supports over 53,000 jobs
- Contributes more than £8 billion to the local economy
- Is forecast to grow by £3 billion in the next year
Looking ahead, the plan outlines how continued investment in clean energy, climate technology, low-emission transport, and home energy upgrades could create around 20,000 new green jobs by 2030, while supporting West Yorkshire’s ambition to reach net zero by 2038.
Mayor Tracy Brabin described the strategy to build on existing success and unlock the full potential of this priority sector:
“West Yorkshire is leading the way in green industries – from home retrofits to clean energy and electric transport. This plan is about building on that success and unleashing the potential of this thriving priority sector. We’re creating good jobs and backing local businesses to supercharge growth and build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
TEST Consulting’s Role in Clean Growth
As a Leeds-based energy and sustainability consultancy working with organisations worldwide, we were pleased to share how TEST Consulting supports businesses through data-driven energy management, clean technology solutions, and smarter infrastructure.
Our work focuses on helping organisations:
- Reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions
- Meet environmental and regulatory standards
- Prepare for the transition to net zero through reliable data and long-term strategy
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss how digital energy monitoring, solar performance optimisation, and integrated sustainability reporting can support both regional and global decarbonisation efforts.
Confidence to Scale and Invest
During the visit, our Managing Director, John Swallow, spoke about the importance of long-term regional support for green businesses:
“This plan shows that West Yorkshire is serious about backing green growth. It gives companies like ours the confidence to employ more people and scale up as the world works towards a greener future. It’s an exciting moment for the region and the sector.”
That confidence is crucial as businesses look to invest, grow their teams, and develop new solutions that contribute to the low-carbon transition.
Collaboration and International Opportunity
We were also pleased to be joined by Moustafa Elgendy, International Trade Adviser at the Department for Business and Trade, who highlighted the value of engaging directly with ambitious regional businesses.
He noted how encouraging it is to see practical support for small and growing companies that are already delivering impact and looking to scale internationally, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between local enterprise, government, and global markets.
In addition, Mandy Ridyard, Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, emphasised the breadth of opportunity across sectors, from advanced manufacturing to fintech, and the importance of continued investment in skills, retrofitting, clean transport, and business support to ensure long-term benefits for communities.
Looking Ahead
Green growth has been identified as one of West Yorkshire’s six key priority sectors within the Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan. Alongside this, investment in Skills Bootcamps and the Fair Work Charter aims to ensure green jobs are secure, well-paid, and rewarding.
We’re grateful to everyone involved for taking the time to visit TEST Consulting and for the open, constructive discussions. As a business rooted in Leeds and working globally, we’re proud to play our part in supporting clean growth, innovation, and sustainable jobs across West Yorkshire.
We’re excited about what comes next, for our region, our team, and the businesses we support on their journey to a more sustainable future.
Interested in learning more?
Get in touch with our team today:
Tel: 0113 467 7650
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