Project background

Midlands LEPs and local authorities are working to support and grow the green economy. To understand and measure progress, a definitive starting point is needed to measure success against. In light of the impact Covid-19 has had on the economy, this work allows us to understand if the pandemic has affected the low carbon economy or forcefully manoeuvres it into a position for rapid expansion, should the right mechanisms of support / policy levers be applied.

Fully funded by the Hub, this study presents a powerful evidence base for use in project justifications or feasibility, containing substantiated recommendations to present to local, regional, and national public sector organisations, Government, and other stakeholders.

Project overview

The Midlands Net Zero Hub, with support from Nottingham City Council, commissioned KMatrix Data Services and Sustainability West Midlands to develop an evidence-based study of the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) Sector.

The analysis, carried out between November 2020 and March 2021, delivers on the BEIS’ ambition to drive the net zero agenda through regional collaboration and intends to:

• Provide a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the LCEGS sector to measure progress against

• Demonstrates the size, scale, and value of the LCEGS sector in each of the LEP areas, down to local authority level

• Help understand the sector’s role in driving a green recovery from Covid-19

• Define the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector to enable consistency across the Midlands

• Inform economic recovery plans and the development of local interventions and policies that support sector growth and scalability of the low carbon economy

• Provide reliable data that can be utilised for funding bids, business cases and to attract investment at Local Authority, LEP and Regional levels.


Project output

This project output is a series of reports which define and quantify the LCEGS sector for the Midlands and from the perspective of the nine LEPs which comprise the Midlands Net Zero Hub. The study looked at both quantitative and qualitative information:

• The quantitative data analysis was carried out by KMatrix Data Services using a triangulation methodology, based on transactional data from a combination of sources and ‘bottom up’ approach to classification

• The qualitative analysis was delivered by Sustainability West Midlands through stakeholder engagement events, a comprehensive literature review, and a recommendation report. Presentations and findings from the workstreams and engagement workshop are available here.


The full list of reports produced through this project include:

Midlands Region Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Coventry and Warwick Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Stoke and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Market Snapshot

Midlands Energy Hub Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Covid Impact Report

Midlands Energy Growth Forecast, Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Growth Forecast for Net Zero 2030 and 2050

Stakeholder report

Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Recommendations Report

• A literature review relevant to the LCEGS Sector in each LEP across the Midlands is also available on request.


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