Coventry University Group is at the forefront of the green industrial revolution

Paul Fairburn, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at Coventry University Group, shares his thoughts on why Coventry University is at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.

At Coventry University Group, clean growth isn’t just a buzzword, it is central to all that we do as a higher education institution and is fully embedded within the Group’s mission, vision and values.

Electrification as a concept is of increasing importance in the fight to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate against climate change. Today’s launch of the Greenpower Park represents a significant leap forward in the green industrial revolution and sets the stage for unparalleled investment in green electrified technology and skilled job creation.

We’re incredibly proud to be a supporting member of the unique alliance of West Midlands industrial groups, local government and academic institutions. Together, we’re not only helping to deliver a centre for excellence for electrification, battery technology and manufacturing but are supporting the region we call home - with inward investment targets of £2.5bn and the creation of 6,000 highly skilled jobs.

This isn’t a step into the unknown for us. Across our university Group we are proud to be recognised as pioneers in this space.

In 2023, we received Innovate UK funding to deliver the Clean Futures programme, one of the five West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) Innovation Accelerators set up to help drive forward the West Midlands Plan for Growth by supporting and accelerating innovation in Cleantech and MedTech.

Coventry University is also home to the Electric Revolution Skills Hub, part of the UK’s initiative in Driving the Electric Revolution. The hub supports the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) business community by simplifying, encouraging and facilitating interaction between recruiters, universities, training providers and current and future PEMD workforces.

Our partnership with North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire college has seen us curate and deliver CPD programmes to support the development of electrification skills across the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Powertrain function. The skills we’re providing will play a vital role in helping JLR realise their commitment to the release of five new electric vehicles by 2025.

And finally, in 2023, we successfully bid for funding to deliver the Electrification Skills Network, from the Faraday Battery Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK. Our involvement sees us lead a collaboration of several influential organisations as we develop electrification skills and capabilities within the four nations of the UK.

Through regional and national initiatives, Coventry University Group is committed to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for our students, partners and the communities we serve. Through Greenpower Park the electrification sector will be able to draw on a future workforce of over 210,000 local students enrolled in relevant degrees and vocational courses to meet the electrification sector's needs.

I am proud to say that our students will be part this highly skilled workforce, placing Coventry University Group firmly at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.