Julian leads MPs in supporting University of York ‘BioYorkshire’ project to generate green economic growth and jobs
September 16, 2020
Julian has led North Yorkshire MPs in supporting the new ‘BioYorkshire’ green economy project, launched this week by York University and Askham Bryan College in the constituency.
BioYorkshire aims to make North Yorkshire the leading national hub for green innovation and enterprise, as the UK’s first carbon-negative region. It brings together businesses, scientists and research institutions to develop sustainable green products that minimise waste and environmental impact, allowing the region to lead in the shift to a greener economy as the UK drives towards its ‘net zero’ carbon emissions target.
Last week, Julian organised and chaired a virtual meeting so the University of York’s Vice-Chancellor could brief regional MPs on the project.
The plan could generate 4,000 skilled jobs and put York at the heart of the growing bioeconomy sector, which could be worth £220 billion a year to the British economy by 2030.
After the launch, Julian said: “I was glad to be able to bring York University together with regional MPs to learn about this fantastic project, and will now help press for central government and other bodies to provide all necessary support to ensure our region can be placed at the forefront of sustainable economic growth in this cutting-edge sector.
BioYorkshire can help our region to recover economically from the shock of covid, building on the region’s existing strengths by combining the existing expertise of local businesses, food producers, and educational institutions in this area.
These plans have real potential to help secure the future prosperity of our city, and create new skilled jobs for school-leavers. Given Yorkshire’s amazing natural landscapes, maintaining the balance between economic activity and environmental preservation is especially important locally, and it is only right our region takes a national lead on this.”
