Innovative proposals in Scotland to reduce the carbon footprint
through manufacturing will receive funding worth more than £25
million over the next four years.
The Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund encourages ideas to
speed up adoption or development of low carbon products,
services, technologies or processes. It aims to reduce emissions
from an industry which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and
accounts for more than half of Scotland’s exports.
First Minister separately launched a First
Minister’s Award for Manufacturing Leadership, recognising
businesses which champion fair work and inclusivity while
investing in employee skills and helping tackle climate change.
The First Minister made the announcements while recognising the
resilience, innovation and agility of Scotland’s small businesses
at the Federation of Small Businesses national awards event on
Thursday.
The First Minister said:
“I applaud all those small businesses which are at the heart of
our communities, offering service and employment while helping
drive productivity and innovation – a key strand of our National
Strategy for Economic Transformation.
“More than 92% of Scotland’s innovative manufacturers are small
businesses and manufacturing is vitally important to our current
and future economy. The Scottish Government is committed to
helping this important sector decarbonise and provide jobs for
the future, while meeting ambitions to reach net zero by 2045.
“That is why we established the Low Carbon Manufacturing Fund,
which is worth £3 million this year. It encourages new
manufacturing technology and processes as part of our national
strategy to transform the economy, improve productivity and
accelerate sustainable growth.
“The First Minister’s Award recognises good practice and aims to
boost productivity and competitiveness by supporting fairness,
equality and inclusive and sustainable employment in
manufacturing.”
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said:
“The global transition to low carbon creates huge potential
markets for manufacturers to tap into around the world. Not only
will this help boost individual business productivity and
profitability, it also positions manufacturing as key to
unlocking our green recovery.
“It’s apt that we’re launching this Fund in the same week that
Emergency One, based in Cumnock and manufacturer of the world’s
first fully electric fire engine, signs its first contract with a
French fire service to export its sustainable vehicles.
“This is a fantastic example of how Scottish companies are
leading the way in low carbon manufacturing and I hope this
inspires other Scottish manufacturers to develop their own
innovative low carbon offerings with support from the new Fund.”
Background
The Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund is administered by
Scottish Enterprise and will run until 2025-26, providing more
than £25 million to support eligible projects over the next four
years. Research and development funding will support innovation
in low carbon technology, processes and infrastructure within
manufacturing.
More information on applying to the Low Carbon Manufacturing
Challenge Fund .
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is
supporting the First Minister’s Award for Manufacturing
Leadership. The successful business must demonstrate how it has
achieved inclusive and sustainable growth, receiving extra
support and advice in return.
It is delivered with partners in the Scottish Government’s
Recovery Plan for Manufacturing - Making Scotland’s Future - and
Scotland CAN B, the Scottish Government’s national programme
supporting business as a force for good.
More information on the First Minister’s Award for
Manufacturing Leadership
Manufacturing supports 178,000 jobs, 47% of businesses
expenditure on research and development and £12.8 billion in
Gross Value Added (GVA). Some 97% of manufacturers in Scotland
are smaller or medium sized businesses.
